A Gift from Him

Everyday of my life, we get to meet so many people. And one of the most important is our friends. Friends are made by the Lord, not to become your servants or for you to become their servant, but to be the ones who will take or raise you up everytime you fall. They will be the ones who will be here in every tear that will fall from the windows of your soul, the ones who would be there in the happiest moments of your life and they will be the ones who will see you at that point when you need them the most. At times like today, we cannot really differentiate a true friend. We have friends though but are we sure that they are the ones who will be there and who will be the ones who could see us in the darkest point in our life. There are just some who make friends because of money. There are some because they have done something good to you and they are just waiting for your return. But there are really some who will be there at the DARKEST days or hours in your life. Non other than that, a real friend is still the most loyal and is the one who will disapprove the saying that goes like this: “Your best friend can be your worst enemies”.

I remember the time when our former English teacher was talking about the Analects of Confucius. I cannot remember the exact words that he said but it was really talking about how well you know somebody, which was pertaining to a friend. She asked a few students who their best friends are. A very simple question, you can just pin- point on someone that he or she is your best friend. But, after a student could answer the first question, she asked: “If he or she is really your best friend, do you know why he or she is really like that as a person?” Very simple huh? But nobody, not even the closest of all the closest friends answered this question. That’s what I’m trying to say here, that if you are really friends with someone, he or she will know why you are you. It maybe very ironic or skeptical but this is a philosophy nobody can answer not even Confucius himself.

Can you remember those times you had a fight with your best friend and suddenly you begin hearing from other people about a secret you told him or her? I mean, what kind of friend will do such a stupid act?! It just isn’t right that you tell others other people’s secrets just because you are mad with that person. It’s such a childish act. A TRUE friend for me is someone who would still keep the secret you told him or her even though you get to have misunderstandings. It just isn’t right to do a “revenge” sort of thing that would also hurt the other party’s feelings.

But most importantly, friends are precious gifts from God. That is why, we need to keep REAL friends and back away from those people who we call “FRIENDS” yet when we turn around they say these really nasty things about you. Real friends are those who we could keep in our hearts longer than we ever imagined. They are precious gifts which we should keep inside the treasure box for decades or maybe for hundreds and hundreds of centuries until the day we forget other people but not our friends.

ONLY REMINDS ME OF YOU

C G
I see you, beside me
F
It's only a dream
Am G
A Vision of what used to be
C G
The laughter, the sorrow
F
Pictures in time
Am G
Fading to memories
pre-chorus:
C G F
How could I ever let you go?
Am G
Is it too late to let you know?
Chorus:
C G
I try to run from your side
F
But each place I hide
Am G C
only reminds me of you
G
When i turn out all the lights
F
Even the night
Am G C
only reminds me of you
Verse 2: (use verse 1 chords)
I needed my freedom
That’s what I thought
But I was a fool to believe
My heart lied when you cried
Rivers of tears
But I was too blind to see
pre-chorus:
Everything we’ve been through before
Now it means so much more
Chorus: C G F Am G
play these chords: C G F Am G after chorus
Only you...
Bridge:
C G
So come back to me
F
I'm down on my knees
Am-G
Girl can’t you see...
C G F
How could I ever let you go
Am G C
Is it too late to late to let you know
Chorus: C G F Am G
Am G C
..only reminds me of you..

So Not a UPian. . . .

The school is our home and we cannot deny the fact that this is where our second learning begins. UPians are considered one of the best students here in the Philippines. Once you are called a UPian, everybody thinks that you're that smart already or it's as if you're so good at everything. UPians are the "Iskolar ng Bayan". This simple phrase means that we are actually the ones who receive and use the people's taxes. But like any other schools here in the Philippines, there are all types of students. There are those who belong to the type of students who are quiet. There are some who are very noisy or just plain talkative. there are also those who reflect a bad image for the Univeristy. Never the less, UPians are considered the "smartest" and most "democratic" people. But what makes the UPians gain a bad image?

There are times that we often hear of visitors coming over to our school and sometimes, we get to meet new people. But this is not my point on what U.P students are not. What's the bad side is that sometimes we are last minute people. I agree with this, simply because I myself is a last minute person. Like what happened last March 22,2007 when there were visitors from Guam, it was like everybody wasn't ready for them. I mean it was the only time the students cleaned the campus. Most of all, there were still some parts of the campus which wasn't cleaned yet like the windows in the Physics room.

Another is that U.P. students are considered very high class intellectuals. But we couldn't really deny the fact that UPians can sometimes make our heads ache. Often, there are teachers who just leave exercises for the students to do. Once the teacher is gone, the phrase "When the cat is away, the mouse is at play" is very true. Why? Because once the teacher goes out of the room, it's like it was hit by a tremendous typhoon. A tremendous typhoon because everything changes in an instant. The room gets so noisy that there are some students who cannot actually focus on what they are working on. It's as if after the storm, a market gets into the scene. A market place full of people shouting at each other and making transactions with almost everybody.

As students, we are expected to have the right behavior. But then, there are times that we cannot control ourselves. What I mean is that we can't stop students sometimes from showing "unearthly" behaviors. Meaning, there are times when the students show uncivilized actions such as shouting or doing actions that can take the name of the school into shame. the best thing we students should do is to tell each other or to mind other's actions so that we cannot bring the name of the school to a shame.

As a UPian and a student, there are times that there are bad impressions about us. But what matters most is that we do not put the name of the school into great shame. As UPians, we should be the ones who will become the model for other people. Though there are bad impressions about U.P. students, I am proud to say that as a UPian, there is nothing impossible unless we do our best and study hard for the sake of ourselves and for others. We should prove to everyone that we UPians can bring the nation into good condition.

The Reality

The Philippines is a very beautiful country. We have so many natural resources. But, what can we do, us Filipino people, about these natural resources if there will be no one to lead us? That’s why we have the Philippine government and the politicians to lead us. But here in the Philippines, or maybe in some other parts of the world, politics has been a very big issue. We often hear it in the news that some politicians are being thrown into jail because of corruption or maybe because of abuse in their powers. And that’s what I want to talk about in this blog post.

Politicians for me are very unreliable. We do not know what they are thinking. We do not know what they might be doing with the people’s money. We hear their complaints and arguments everyday in the news. They are very IRRESPONSIBLE politicians. You know what? All I can say is that why don’t they try doing things together for the good of the Philippine society? Why don’t they do projects for the good of the people than just waste the money of the people in doing trials in court or by using the money in their own political will?

Yeah right. They have been showing propagandas about education, economical development or health. But my question is can they actually do this when they are in the position? Maybe there will be some that can do the things stated in their propagandas but how about the others? Will we just sit here and wait for them finish in their debates or arguments? I’m tired of hearing their uncivilized criticisms about the present government. Don’t they know about the projects done by the Arroyo government? Maybe NO. Those politicians who are trying to pull down the government are down right selfish. You know why? ‘Coz I can see that they are doing these things because of POWER. Political power has been very effective in the Philippines and I know that these people who are currently opposing the Arroyo government don’t even know what the government has done to the economy and even for the people.

Should I introduce to them this T.V station, NBC 11, so that they will know what the government has done? Or should I go with them and tour the whole Philippines so that they will know what government projects has been put up like road building projects in Mindanao or the livelihood projects in baranggays here in the Philippines? Politicians in the Philippines are plain stupid. Yes, and I really mean it. Why don’t they try to look at the bright side on how the government has helped a lot of people especially in the rural areas and help in developing these projects?

I may just be a student but, I can also do something so that the politicians would open their eyes wide for them to see how the government has been building the Philippine economy and how it has given people job opportunities. Why don’t they try to be more dedicated on doing some economic and civic projects than just sit in the senate or congress and wait for the people to call them or to make some uncivilized actions or rallies for them to wake up to the reality? Why don’t they try to see what they can do for our country?

Emergency!!

Whew! Summer’s in again and the weather is rising to an extreme level. Everybody’s going to the beach or the pool and just stay there for hours and hours to refresh themselves. But have you noticed? It just gets hotter and hotter everyday? This is just a very little effect of global warming.

According to Manila Bulletin’s Magazine article, global warming refers to an increase in average global temperatures, which in turn cause climate change. Our atmosphere is mainly made up of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, methane and carbon dioxide as well as water vapor. These gases help in the absorption of heat thus reducing the amount that escapes back to space. As the atmosphere absorbs heat, this causes the oceans and including the surface of the Earth to become warm. This process is called the greenhouse effect. Notice that in a greenhouse, it is made up of glass thus allowing heat or sunlight to enter so that the plants may harness it and use it for their photosynthesis. But notice that the environment inside the greenhouse is humid and warm because only very little amount of heat energy is able to go out. This is what is happening to the world right now. As the amount of Carbon Dioxide and greenhouse gases increases, the more it keeps heat energy from going out Earth. Because of these things that happen in our world, scientists have observed that as the temperature rises, the more we should get to worry. Why? As simple as a blink or maybe a snap of our finger everything would disappear. A very serious effect engaging Global Warming is that as the temperature rises making the glaciers and ice caps in Polar Regions melt making a very big increase or rise of sea level causing massive floods in very low regions including the United States, India and some parts of Asia and Africa. Come to think of it, millions or should I say billions of people are living in these areas and if that massive flood will strike that area, it will claim billions and billions of lives. This is just ONE effect of global warming that we will get to experience in the near future, yet there are still lots and lots of these effects that scientists haven’t discovered and observed yet.

But can we do anything to stop global warming? Yes, there is but then we couldn’t make it without the help of the people in our community. The government has been thinking of ways on how we could stop global warming. The government has planned of effective ways to lessen the use of diesel which can also contribute to global warming. That is, the Bio- diesel act passed by Congressman Miguel Zubiri. And if we just follow rules concerning the environment, I know we can prevent all the unwanted effects of Global warming to happen.

This is not just a nation wide but also an international alert. Here in the Philippines, we maybe experiencing so many changes in the weather but these are the first effects upon global warming. Our life here on Earth is just borrowed and according to one unwritten law of nature, “Mother Nature knows best.” And that is what Mother Nature is doing. She is trying to take her revenge for the indiscriminate use of the natural resources by the people. Yet, if we help each other in our continuing fight against Global warming, I know, in maybe just a matter of years, we can replenish the Earth. And this is now an emergence to all nations of the world, to join and unite to help in the replenishment of our Mother Earth. =)

Family at School

During the very early Christmas break we had, I looked for ways so that things will not be boring for me. One of these things is my favorite pastime which is watching animé series. Because of this, I was introduced by a cousin of mine into watching a very beautiful animé entitled “Ouran High School Host Club”. This is about students in a very high class institution wherein only children of very wealthy (and I mean FILTHY RICH) families are allowed to enroll. But of course, there is an exception for special students (like Fujioka Haruhi) who get to have special scholarships in the institution. I loved watching the animé because of the twists in the story and how it becomes very realistic when we apply it in our daily lives. It is a different kind of love story because most of the characters who are involved are male students. It is a comedy- romance- drama sort of T.V. series. This also shows how families must be bonded together like the family they have in the host club.

The president of the club is Tamaki Suou, who acts stupidly but pulls to keep his Host Club "family" together. He views himself as the "dad" and Haruhi as his "daughter" once he discovers her true gender. The vice-president, otherwise known as the "mom" is Kyouya Ootori, takes care of the financial gain and business opportunities related to the club. He is always calm and collected, silently running the club from the shadows, but he is really quite cunning and sly. The Hitachiin brothers - Hikaru and Kaoru - are twins who are always finding ways to have fun in the club whenever they get bored, which is often. They use their "brotherly love" act to attract female customers. They have a tendency of making Tamaki jealous of them and Haruhi. The fifth member is a small student by the name of Mitsukuni "Hunny" (or "Honey" in fansubs) Haninozuka who appears to be the youngest of the members but is actually one of the oldest of the group. He has an excessively cute style which his customers go crazy over. He is a master of martial arts, despite his small appearance and love for anything cute. He is always angry when he is woken up. His cousin, Takashi "Mori" Morinozuka, is the sixth member of the club whose defining quality is that he speaks very little, and always hangs around with Hunny, usually taking him on piggyback. His family has been serving the Haninozukas for centuries. The final member of the club, unlike the others, is in fact a female student named Haruhi Fujioka who stumbled into the club one day by accident. She was initially mistaken for male and seems to have no problems with cross dressing in order to pay off her ¥ 8,000,000 debt to the club. Since her mother died when she was very young, and her dad was always at work to support them, she had grown up to be a very independent young woman.

As the story progresses, you get to meet so many characters like Renge Houshakuji who is their self- proclaimed manageress, Ritsu Kasanoda, who is the son of a yakuza (in English this is what we call gangster) and the super creepy schoolmate (though he is very handsome when he takes his cape off) and president of the nearby Dark Magic Club, Umehito Nekozawa. And lastly, Tamaki’s supposed to be fiancé, Éclair Tonnere (their soon to be marriage was stopped by the Host Club members). I assure all those animé fans that they will like the series because of its twists and turns in the story. This will surely make a big difference to the animé fans out there! www.wikipedia.com

Falling and Giving ……

“Do you know how painful it is to give up on someone
‘Coz you don’t have any choice but to do so?
It’s like falling off on the 22nd floor of a building
. . . And sadly . . . .
You end up alive . . . =’ (”

As I was looking through the quotes in my phone, I found this one strange quote. It’s really painful to know that you just have to give up loving that person because all you could feel from him is ultimately friendship and you don’t have any choice but to do that very stupid thing; giving up. That’s what’s so hard. It’s when you end up being friends with that special someone though you can’t hide your feelings for him or her. But what is really very hard is when you aren’t actually friends! I don’t mean anything like you’re enemies but the fact that you just know each other yet you don’t talk with each other! Do you get my point? I mean, loving someone you know you don’t have any chance is such stupidity. You don’t even talk to each other and yet it still occurs in your mind that you want him or her to notice you.

I have a friend who’s been experiencing these things. She has this kind of special feeling for someone. That special someone doesn’t actually talk to her. It’s as if when they meet at school, or even when they pass by each other, not one single “hello” or even a “hi” is heard between them! My friend just thinks that he is shy or maybe he’s just not in the mood. That’s what’s so weird about guys. You don’t actually know when they are in a good mood or when they have their tantrums. I feel pretty sure that the guy is actually shy because I have met him and both of us don’t even say a single word when we meet. Sure, I can handle that, but not my friend. I feel pity for her. I want to blurt out to the guy how my friend feels because of his weird behaviors. I just can’t pass these things by. That’s why I feel a little bit confused about guys because of their attitude. Now, she wants to give up her feelings for him because of the things he’s been showing her.

Now back to reality. As I was saying, loving can’t be a very easy emotion. Like what the quote just said, making a decision to give up on someone is like falling off the 22nd floor and ending up being alive. Ouch! I can imagine that that would hurt so much. The pain would be unending. But what I can only say about people who love? It’s just that they risk being hurt just to learn. They risk finding someone new and sometimes they finally end up together or they end up being hurt again. Ironic isn’t it? Love for me happens because we want someone to keep and someone to share our lifetime together. We want someone to be there whenever we have problems or someone who we can share sad and happy moments. But one advice from me is that, it’s not bad to love and to get hurt because being hurt is just part of loving. You wouldn’t know how to love deeply and how to hold a relationship longer if you haven’t tried being hurt. The point is that, when loving, you don’t have to actually end up being together. There are times when you need to give up and to start again. < = )