February 13, 2007

Dear Diary,

Yesterday, we went to MV Doulus at Pier 1 in Cebu. I was really excited that night before our visitation to a great cruise. In fact, I did not have enough sleep. I prepared myself very well for this event. Wow! It was so amazing to go there. It was a very funny day! During lunchtime, I ate as fast as I could so that I could fix my hair and everything. Ernestine, my friend had a shortage of her viand. She hurriedly lined up in the canteen store to buy one. It took her fifteen minutes to buy her viand. While I was on my seat, I could not help to scold her. She ate as fast as she could. After a quick lunch, we then hurriedly went to the sink. We brushed our teeth and combed our hair. Then, we found out that the jeeps we rented for going to Doulus, already arrived. We ran fast towards the room. We thought that the jeep would leave us if we will be late. But whew! Thank God!

We were very happy and noisy in the jeep. We had a race between the jeeps. At first, it was section Palma who was the first. But we overtake their jeep. Yeepee!!! We won. I really can not wait to see how the ship looks. As we entered the gate, we were very noisy. Then a sailor man came and welcomed us with a scold. He even scolded our teacher, Mdm. Logarta. I was very angry at him but all vanished in the wind when we were about to enter the ship. I and my company directly went to the bookstore. MV Doulus is a bookstore which travels to the sea. It is very fantastic and cool. I really appreciated the beauty of the bookstore but the books were very expensive. After a bit long period of time on glancing and reading upon the books, I felt like it was time for me to visit the comfort room. I went to the comfort room with my friend. Their CR was nice too. After that business, we went back on our way to the shop. But sad to say, the security guard would not let us come in. and then. I glanced upon a sign, “No Re-entry back to the bookstore”. This made me very sad. But I did not loose my hope. I tried to find a way to go back there, but there were no ways. The security was very strict and keeps on an eye to every person. I then lost my friend. I just went to see the views of the islands and the deep blue sea. I got bored. Then I saw my other classmates, Danica and Lou Anne. They had a plan on how to go back to the shop. It was to cross the bars without letting the guards know. At first it was Lou Anne’s turn to do it. She did it successfully. Next was Gener, a second year student. But sad to say, one of the guards saw him. Thank God! I did not follow them. Because if I did, it would be a great shame for me. I then saw my friend back. I asked her where have she been. She told me that she entered back to the store with the help of one of the friendly staffs of the ship. So I tried what she did. But the guard was not convinced. Sir Elmer then negotiated with her. And so we were allowed to go back to the shop. The books really attracted me. But it is just I can only read them. But I enjoyed a lot. And before we went down the ship, their crew gave us two books. At least I have a souvenir from them. Well I hope I could go back there again sometime in the future.

Leslie ; )

"Mr. Cupid stop hitting on me!"

Dear Diary,

Today, is already the month of February, yet so close, I could already smell in the air, the breeze of love. Like, "Love is in the air!". It is still February 10, 2007, and the day of all the hearts is getting close. But anywhere I look, I could already see lovers, sharing their best and sweet moments. It adds more color to the Valentine's Day. Now, Mr. Cupid already strikes with his' bow and arrow to hit the hearts of lonely and loveless people in the world.

But how could you really show love to a loved one? It may be like those fairy tales, in which after the girl meets her prince charming and then they will encounter the evil people who wants to stop their love. Then after that they will marry each other and live happily ever after. Or it may be like some of those Shakespearian love stories, in which no matter hard is their situation, love will still rule. But those were just in the stories and not true to life. In the real life, a boy and a girl will meet anywhere and anytime. It could be by means of a friend, through text or even in the internet. Some consider this as destiny. Nowadays, some people influenced by some love stories, like in the novels, or by the Koreanovelas in the TVs. They would then dream to have a situation the same to these. Mostly do them are women. What is the matter with us? Why do we need to believe in destinies or what ever? But I can't deny to myself that I believe on them too. You know it is just only up to you in ,making your own love story. Of course you yourself is the author itself. Then for the cast of characters, you yourself is the "bida" and for those whom you think who is the hindrance of your love story, you could consider him or her as the "contrabida" of your story. Then to make this story more interesting, it needs it's own setting. The time and the place where the story will happen. The day to day happenings of your life, will serve as the events of your story. And the story itself also ends., it may be on a happy ending or sad, and can be on a hanging ending. But for me, the story never ends when you meet your loved one. For me, it ends when it could be your last breath here on the earth. We still do not know how our own stories end. Like me, as of now, I am loveless. In a common sense, I'm still too young to be involved in such relationships. But I have a crush. But as I realize, I should go away from it and prioritize my studies. Well my love life, could just stop on the crush chapter of my story. Maybe, I will go in these relationship when I am on the right age. And when I have my own permanent work. As of now, I still want to spend a happy Valentine with my parents. I really love them more than my life. And I will always love them until death. There are still lots of chapters in my life that I need to go on. Maybe my true love is waiting for me at the right place and time. So for all lovers there, take your time. And for those loveless people, just wait and Mr. Cupid is on his' way to strike up with his' bow and arrow to hit your hearts. Then be ready to fall in love. Happy Valentines to all!

Leslie ; )

"As Poverty Strikes..."

Dear Diary,

By now, poverty already strikes to our country. Out of one hundred, I think ninety-nine point nine-nine percent are on this state. The main reason is because of the graft and corruption made by our government, who do not have enough pity for us who need money to support our daily needs. And out of the people who experience poverty, I am one of them.

At an early age, I grew up with just a better life. My mother and my father could even sustain my needs in financial and in physical. But as I grew up and time came that I need to go to school, our life, gets poorer and poorer. Before, my father receives a meager salary. But now that there are already many school fees to pay, my father's salary gets lesser and lesser. Graft and corruption gives injustice to Filipino peoples. The tax we pay which we think would help our society and living status, goes to the pockets of the government. Nowadays, people need to work more harder and harder to earn more money, so that they could sustain on what there family needs. In terms of food, clothes and shelter. On the other side, these governors who lacks pity to us, are living on a very luxurious life. They could even buy anything they want for themselves and their family without caring nor' thinking of some Filipino people's situation. Now, there are only few government officials who cares for us. Because of graft and corruption our country had so many credits to other countries. And because the president needs to pay them, lack on sustaining school for some pilgrims, lack on salary increasing for Filipino workers, lack on books and chairs for public schools attacks to the list of problems of our country. When will time come that our country will experience a life living without credits and a complete sustainment for the children and Filipino workers? This could maybe never be happening when we see some graft and corruptors in our society. When will people learn to have pity for us pilgrims. On our situation, we sometimes lack money to buy our food we can eat daily. Plus, we need to pay our rental fee to our land lady. And another for my school fees and allowance. So, because of this I save some of my money, so that someday my family and I will have something to get when we need money. This is another way or technique to help you yourselves in improving your living status. We should learn to be thrifty. We need not to buy things that are not in need. When we buy something, we should decide very well. It should be useful to the whole family. In this way, our money that we kept on saving will get bigger and bigger. So for some kids like me who experience these situations will help there families by saving money. Poverty need not to be a hindrance to us and our goals in life. Indeed it serves for us to be a challenge for striving hard in our life. Well Diary, thanks for having me a little time on sharing with you some of my feelings all this time.

Leslie ; )

"Science and Technology, Improving the Lives of Filipinos"

Dear Diary,

This was what I promised you. The essay I made entitled, "Science, Technology and Lives”

As time passes, from generation to generation, technology improves through the help of Science. From simple ideas stocked in such creative minds, that was carefully planned and studied in such creative minds up to greater outcomes. Technologies not just only help us make our life easier, but mostly improve the living status of many Filipinos in need financially. Why? It is because, as Science and Technology improves, many vacancies on companies for their workers. By this way, the Filipinos who have no work before could earn the money they need because of the improvement of Science and Technology. By this way, they could now have enough money to sustain the needs of their family and especially on their own needs, physically and mentally. And as time to time passes, generation by generation Technology improves and in the future, more vacancies for workers wait for them. And of course these workers in need will have a meager salary for sustaining their financial needs on their families. On the other hand, Science and Technology could improve the lives of Filipinos by negotiating to other countries like Japan whom is rich and affluent on technology and in the fields of Science. We do not know that maybe ten to fifteen years from now, our country would be considered as the most affluent in technology in the whole wide world. Well hopefully this would happen. I do really appreciate Japan! They are very rich because of technology. Did you know that most of the machines in our country and in the other countries of the world came from Japan! Yes you heard it! All they invented were very useful to our day to day lives. If the technology on our country would improve, then we could pay the expenses we borrowed from the other countries. Like the United States of America, Korea and of course Japan. Since the Philippines encountered many problems, especially on financial needs because of the corrupters on our government. The president couldn’t sustain the other important needs of our country. There were lack of some books, chairs and schools on our country. But through the help of technology in our country, these problems would be solved as soon as possible. This is one way how Science and Technology improve mostly the lives of Filipinos in our country. How nice could it be to imagine that many, many years from now, Philippines would be rich in technology? Maybe as I encounter the future and hopefully I could reach my goals and ambitions in life, my life would be very nice as Science and Technology help me improve my life and my to my other Filipino “kababayans”. I could now consider Science and Technology as a part of my life.

Well diary this is just the content of my essay. I don’t think that my essay is nice to be read nor good to be heard. I maybe still lack more ideas to make a good essay. My mind maybe does not function very well today. Madam Gallo really made a good decision to choose Chanel to be the contestant for the essay writing contest. By her, the freshmen will surely win versus the sophomores, juniors and the seniors. Until next time diary! See yah!!!

Leslie ; )

"What I expected was..."

Dear Diary,

I am very excited for our Science and Technology week activity this February , 2007. This would be very great! As I have read our school bulletin board, the freshmen has lots of contests to join. Like the slogan, essay writing, and the poster making contest. And of these three, I choose the essay writing contest. Because of this, I made a piece just this afternoon. Our theme was, “Improving Filipino Lives through Science and Technology”’. Too bad I was not chosen by our Science teacher. It was my classmate, Chanel. Well, she deserves to be the contestant for this category. She’s very intelligent and affluent in English. Well I could still share to her my ideas for her essay. Or maybe I don’t need to. I really or all the students of UP High School, especially I-Villamor and our class adviser

much appreciated her goodness in writing in English form when a column of her, was published in The Freeman Newspaper on the June issue. It went out on Sunday. Then, the next morning, a lot of people approached her commenting about the column. They say it was very nice. When I got a copy of mine, I kept it at house. Even my mother and father who have read it praised her work. I really expected a lot for myself here in this school. Even for this contest I was expecting that our teacher will let us write our own piece. Then, she would let us read them one by one in front of our class. After reading them she would then choose some of us who has the best essay and of course I was one of them. Then my classmates would vote to whom does deserve to be the representative of the freshmen. They would then choose me. Wow! How nice could that be! But my expectations were wrong! Sometimes people need not to expect on things. They need to wait for the opportunity to come to their own ways. Too many expectations could lead you to trouble. And that is what I am doing today. I just want to be recognized because of my talent. I want to prove people that I could do lots of things in my life. And I deserve to stay in this school. Is it just too bad if you would just wish for something you want to achieve in your life? Well I have already received that don’t fit in the position. Maybe there are some more activities that await me in the future, that would surely fit me and my talent. After all, my classmates did not have the information that I know how to do one. Since I was in the elementary years, (somewhere in grade 5 and 6) when we were told to make some essays, my teacher then would praise my work. That is why I was expecting a lot for this activity. Well I can’t blame anyone. But, if only they get to know me very well. Well diary, maybe this would just be all! If you want to know my piece, I’ll just publish it on my blog. Okay!

Leslie ; )

"What the Stars and the Sky Tell Me About Life"

February 6, 2007

Dear Diary,

It is been already weeks or months since we have been together. I shared a lot to you on my daily experiences. On what happens to me day by day. About my feelings on people around me, how about trying a new topic which regards on my opinion about life. What about, “How the Skies and the Stars tell me about Life!”

Last week, February 3, 2007 we had an activity. It was about star gazing. Thank God! My parents allowed me to join the said activity. It was a night full of fun. Imagine gazing up to the stars would be very nice. Upon this, I could already say that we are astronomers in a simple form. But as I explore beneath the skies and the stars, there is something which comes to my mind. As I gaze upon them, I could imagine my own self reaching my ambitions in life one by one. Like they were telling me something deep inside my heart. Telling me that no matter how obstacles tamper my life, I still should fight till the end until I reach my goals in life. I have tried this many times in my life. I always think on the negative side. But somehow there is still a little hope and faith which remains in my heart. With the help of my friends and my parents, they give me the strength to strive hard and believe that I could reach my ambitions. And still I never forget to ask God’s guidance even though my faith to him is not that strong at all. My parents give me the most strength to believe upon reaching my goals. I just want to give them in exchange a bunch of the results on my life’s success. For when I was still at the young age, my parents worked harder for me each day to sustain my needs and to give me a good future. That is what I kept to reflect on in my life. The stars and the skies wanted me to reach for them. Even though how high they are. By now I am on the tenth stair towards reaching my dreams in life. Eight more stairs to step on, eight more storms and tornadoes of obstacles to encounter. And hopefully eight more taps at the back of recognition on my successes. For striving hard, I could already pay my parents sacrifices for me. As the stars shine so bright one by one, I could picture out from them the simple little girl named Leslie until she becomes into a successful woman into the future with flying colors. Hopefully this could happen that I may be the Leslie, as bright as the stars at the night and as wide and blue as the sky on a silent night. That one day I may be one of the people idolized by other people with lots of goals in life. But too bad to that day there were no stars at all! In the sky’s presence was only the moon. Lonely and full on the sky, this starts to loom into a pinkish background. A sign of a heavy rain is coming. That the moon starts to hide behind the black clouds of the night. Like the dreams of every people starts to vanish one by one. But thank God it did not rain. It was only that the moon needs to rest from a whole night work up in the sky. Giving his light to the darkness of the night. It could be that all I could say to you my dear diary. See you next time!

Leslie ; )

Reflections on Teachers and Teaching

February 1, 2007

Dear Diary,

I really missed the Know Your School Day activity we had last week. I applied for being a Social Science teacher. Than God! I was accepted. Well actually I was just the only one who applied for this position. I really want to experience being a teacher. Since I was a kid, I really wanted to be a teacher because I want to share my knowledge to other people. But as time passes and as I grew, my ambition changed. Now I want to be a nurse so that I could treat the ill. And the other reason is that now, there are many teachers. Their population gets bigger. So, the salary they receive gets smaller and smaller. And now other countries are in need for nurses. If hopefully I could go abroad, I could earn dollars.

Back to the topic, it is very hard to teach students especially for those who don’t listen at all! I could even say to myself that at that time, I was wasting my voice and effort. But that was just for one day! I really tried my best to share my knowledge to my fellow classmates or students as well. I really want for the KYSD to be done again. Hopefully if I could still stay here in UP, I would apply as many positions I could. What could be next? Well, I’ll still continue for Social Science, but I will also try other subject so that I could test my knowledge for the other subjects. Well my effort in teaching was not wasted at all even though others did not mind to listen. At the end of the program which was the awarding ceremony, I received an award. Well this is just an experience for me on teaching. Receiving a certificate of recognition for me would be very okay. This would just acknowledge my job for being a substitute teacher for my specialty subject, Social Science. My classmates would even say that I could be the future Madam Sofia Aliño Logarta. So to ride their jokes, I would act as Madam Logarta’s long-lost and now found granddaughter. Well it is really very hard to be a Social Science teacher. Imagine, on my position I still need to recall what we had for the past few days and start for a new lesson. I even got a hard time on jutting down the current events happening to our society. At the night before the KYSD, I still need to borrow our neighbor’s newspaper, listen to the radio and hurriedly take down all about what the reporter says. Ouch! My hands really got hurt! And after listing down that information, I still need to summarize them and write on a clean piece of re-used paper. My mother got pity no e, so she offered me a helping hand but I didn’t accept her offer. I slept at already 11:45 at that night and it wasn’t even finished at all. So I set up my alarm clock to 3:00am. I almost got late for school at that time. Imagine I was the teacher and I will get late? My subject was scheduled for being the first matter of the period. I almost forgot to bring my visual aids that I gave effort and time the night before! Well thank God that before I went out of our gate, my mother ran after me bringing them. At school, thank God I finished my job without any errors.

Leslie ; )