Dalawang Araw na Kasama Siya

Huling araw na ng aking unang taon sa kolehiyo. At ngayon, tinatahak ko ang daan pauwi galing sa kanilang munting tahanan. Ang lugar kung saan iginasta ko ang huling dalawang araw kasama siya. Dalawang araw na pinuno namin ng mga magagandang karanasan.

Huling ika-unang araw. Nakaupo ako sa harap ng tindahan ni Ate Ana. 6:16 pa lang ng umaga pero andito na ako. Pinatong ko muna ang bag ko sa aking tabi at sumandal sa upuan. Tatlong oras akong maaga para sa pagkikita ng aming pangkat. Mag-oovernight kasi kami sa kanila para sa research paper namin sa Filipino. Matapos kaya namin?

6:30 n.u. Ayoko munang pumasok sa loob ng college building namin. Masyado pang umaga. Ayokong tumambay mag-isa sa loob. Aantayin ko na lang muna na may pumasok kahit isa. Inaantay ko rin kasi siya, susunduin niya kasi kami para ‘di kami maligaw papunta sa kanila.

6:35 n.u. Wala pa ring dumadating kahit isa. Biglang lumabas si Ate Ana. Tinanong niya ko kung bakit maaga ako. Sinagot ko na lang siya na may overnight kami. Akala ko tatagal ang pag-uusap naming pero ‘di kalaunan ay umalis din siya. Mag-isa na naman ako.

6:45 n.u. Sampung minuto pa lang ang nakakalipas pero pakiramdam ko ay isang oras na ang lumipas pagkatapos kong silipin ang oras kanina. Bakit ba ang tagal dumating ng mga estudyante dito sa COC? Samantalang nitong nakaraang linggo, maaaga naman sila kung dumating.

7:00 n.u. Ilang mga mukha na ang dumaan sa harap ko. May mag-isa, may dalawahan. Pero lahat sila ay dinadaan-daanan lang ang COC, wala pa ring pumapasok sa loob nito. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at dalawang naka-pula ang sinundan ko nang tingin. Alam kong sila na ang inaantay kong makakasabay ko pagpasok. Tumayo na ako sa aking kinauupuan. Kinuha ko ang aking bag at muli iyong isinuot. Naglalakad na ako papunta sa loob ng gusali nang tumunog ang aking cellphone.

‘Aaaaaaaaaaa.Choc is calling...’

Sinagot ko ito at ang inip ko ay napawi nang tanungin niya ako kung nasaan ba ako. Sinabi kong papasok na ako nang COC at sinabi niyang malapit na siya. Sa wakas may kasama na ako. ‘Di na ako mag-isa.

7:05 n.u. Tinahak ko ang pasilyo papunta sa lugar kung saan ako madalas tumambay. Umupo ako sa sahig na katapat ng ‘Room 202’ at isinandal ko ang aking likod sa pader pagkatapos kong ilapag ang aking bag sa aking tabi. Huminga ako nang malalim at saka ko inilapat ang aking ulo sa pader. Kakapikit ko pa lamang ng aking mga mata nang marinig ko ang pag-ngiyaw ng pusa. Dinilat ko ang aking mga mata at tinawag ko ang pusa sa pamamagitan ng pagsambit ng pantawag sa mga pusa. Lumapit naman ito kaagad at nilaro ko ang pusang saksi sa aking buhay sa COC tuwing umaga.

7:10 n.u. Habang naglalaro at nagkukulitan kami ng pusang itim ay nakarinig ako ng yabag ng tao. Itiningala ko ang aking ulo at nakita ko ang makakasama ko sa pag-aantay sa loob ng dalawa pang natitirang oras. Umupo siya sa aking tabi at hinalikan ang aking labi pagkatapos ay sa noo. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay nang sobrang higpit. ‘Di ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng kilig. Sinulit na namin ang mga oras na magkasama kami. Dalawang buwan ang lilipas bago kami muling magkasama.

8:00 n.u. Napagdesisyunan naming kumain muna kila Ate Ana ng unli lugaw. Kinuha niya ang bag kong punong-puno ng aking mga gagamitin sa overnight namin. Nagpalit kami ng bag at dala ko ang bag niyang Bench na naglalaro lang sa aking katawan dahil sa wala itong laman kundi ang wallet niya lang. Tinahak namin ang daan papunta kila Ate Ana ngunit hindi rin natuloy ang aming pagkain dahil walang lugaw, napagdesisyunan namin na kumain na lang ng hamburger.

8:30 n.u. Tatlumpung minuto na lang ag natitira at napagdesisyunan naming pumunta na sa Recto station. Doon kasi ang napagdesisyunang magiging tagpuan ng aming pangkat. Nilakad namin ang kahabaan ng Pureza, walang umiimik sa aming dalawa pero patuloy lang kami sa paglalakad.

8:40 n.u. Nakasakay kami ng jeep pero tahimik pa rin kami. Pero ilang segundo lang ang nakalipas at nag-usap na rin kami. Inabot kami ng dalawampung minute sa byahe bago makarating sa aming destinasyon. Tila napakatagal na rin nung huli ko siyang makasabay papuntang Recto.

9:00 n.u. Narating namin ang Recto Station at nakita namin ang naghihintay na si Gelai. Buhat-buhat pa rin niya ang bag ko at kahit sa simpleng bagay lang na ganito kinikilig pa rin ako. Naghintay pa kami ng isang oras para hintayin ang iba pa naming mga kagrupo.

10:00 n.u. Kumpleto na kami at nagsimula na kaming maglakbay papunta sa kanila. Ewan ko pero ang saya ko dahil kahit sa huling dalawang araw ng aking unang taon sa kolehiyo makakasama ko ang taong ito.

11:00 n.u. Isa-isa ko nang nakita ang mga puno, palayan at mga hayop sa paligid. Nararamdaman ko na ang atmosphere ng isang probinsya. Nararamdaman ko nang malapit na kami sa kanila. Nararamdaman ko na magiging maganda ang dalawang araw naming pananatili sa kanila.

12:00 n.t. Inabot kami ng dalawang oras bago makarating sa kanila. Pagbaba naming ng tricycle ay naisip ko ang mga dinaanan namin. Dalawang beses sa isang araw at walong beses sa isang linggo. Mahirap pala ang pagbyahe niya, nakakapagod.

Nasa tapat na kamin ng pintuan nila, nagsipasukan na ang tatlo kong mga kagrupo at naiwan na lang ako. Tinatanggal ko ang aking sapatos nang puntahan ako ng kanyang butihing ina, nagbeso ako bilang paggalang sa kanya. Nagkamustahan at pinapasok na niya ako.

(Itutuloy...)

Supermom

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."

A teacher, a best friend, a daughter, a sister and a mother, she is Ma. Joylyn L. Villanueva. A mother for all seasons and a mega mom. She is my mom, a woman with a humble heart and superior hands: a person who can multi-task her works. In other words, she is a superhero.

A superhero with no superhuman powers but with the power of comfort, love, affection and care. She has these powers that no one can give and offer to us. She's the only one.

Being a single mother of four children is not an easy role. It's not that very easy for her to take care of us on her own, but she does it all by herself.

God has given me many blessings everyday but everyday being with my mom is the greatest blessing I have. I am very lucky to have this kind of mother who is cooler than me, who always tells me that I am beautiful and who's always there for me no matter what.

She tells me once that she never regret to make that decision to fight for us on her own. She always tells me that she is very proud to us that we are we are her children and her treasure. She also promises that she will always love us and we also promise that we will always love her.

"I Was Born to Write"

“Pen is the tongue of the mind.”

In my cabinet, I have this paper containing this quote which always reminds me that I am a writer. This serves as my token which is telling me every morning that I must not regret that I choose Journalism.

Since elementary, I already have this belief that what I can’t say through speaking, I can say it through writing. All the things that I can’t utter through my mouth, I express it with my pen. I feel comfy every time that I express my feelings, opinions and emotions. It’s just; I feel that I am heard.  I feel free every time I express myself – for what I am, what I think and what I feel. When I’m sad or mad, I write. When I’m happy or glad, I write. I know that my other half is in Journalism.

Way back then when I was in my elementary days, I tried to join our Journalism Club. I really tried my best to pass the qualifying exam. I wrote from my heart and might, unfortunately, I failed and didn’t qualify. Then in my high school years, I tried to be one of the Campus Journalists. I competed with every talented student during the audition for three consecutive years but I failed to beat them. In short, I was a frustrated writer way back then. In my Senior Year, I almost gave up my dream to be one of those writers, but for one last time I tried (for it really was my dream), fortunately, I passed. Then my journey started, I attended seminars and joined the different contests. So, the biggest reason why I take Journalism was my desire to be a writer. In short, writing would always be my passion. And someday, this passion would lead me to be a successful person.

Five years from now, I will be a proud journalist graduate of Polytechnic University of the Philippines and I see myself as a successful screenwriter in a TV network or a respected author of a famous book. I will inspire the readers to follow their hearts and dreams. I am not really sure what will be my job in future but I am sure that I will be a professional writer. I know and have this vision that I am a writer, born in this earth to be a writer. But this vision will not come true if I do not take this course.

Maybe if I did not take Journalism, my life would be miserable. Solving Math problems here, studying and analyzing Accounting Techniques there. My mom encouraged me to take Accountancy but I told her that I was born to write not to solve any Accounting problems. Blessedly, she let me to take the course I want. And I was very happy to be in Journalism class and meet those persons with the same passion that I had. We should take the path where our feet want us to go to but we must make it sure that it is good and will lead us to our dreams.

Blessed for Being a Filipino

It was still fresh in my mind, the day when i realized to make a change and opened my eyes.

It was Saturday afternoon, dated August 24 on the present year after we ate our lunch in Robinson's Galleria: we went to the Meralco Theatre and Ortigas Avenue to watch a musical play. Actually, I really did not know what the topic of the play was.

As I was walking to the aisle of the entrance of the theater, I saw this familiar face inside a car that I usually saw in a TV Ad. She looked like Kris but I just did not take time to see who it was. Suddenly, as I was going to enter and let the security checked my bag, I bumped into someone. I lifted up my head to see the person and said sorry. Then, I noticed that it was Viel Aquino who I bumped with, the sister of President Noynoy Aquino. I greeted her and she greeted me back. I let her to go first but she insisted to let me go first. I wondered why she was there then as I got my ticket, it answered my question. We were going to watch a musical play entitled as Heritage: A Docu-Musical Tribute to Ninoy and Cory Aquino, this play was a tribute for the late legendary personalities in the Philippine history with the celebration and commemoration of THEIR death anniversary, both on the month of August.

The play was all about the life and sacrifices of Ninoy When he was still alive just to have the freedom are priority the Filipinos had never experienced. Sadly, Ninoy was shot and killed but the fight for freedom was continued by His wife, Cory Aquino, who pursued to get back the democracy to the Philippines. It also showed the bloodless revolution During the year 1980's - the People Power Revolution in EDSA.

I was really happy to watch this kind of play for I was not able to experience this kind of peaceful revolution. This play helped me to make importance and value what we had today, the freedom and democracy that we experienced in our country where we were free to do what we want to do and When no one would control you.

Suddenly, as I watched the play, I thought about this Certain girl who was very close to the main characters of the story, THEIR daughter, Viel Aquino. Then different questions started to enter into my mind like - "Is she okay?", "What does she feel right now?" Or "Does she regret for what her father did for our country?" But, I knew the answer was she's Okay, she felt very proud for what her parents did for our country and she did not regret for what happened. She knew that these were the things what her parents wanted to happen in our country.

We were very, very lucky that we had many heroes who fought and sacrificed THEIR lives just to let us Filipinos and next generations They feel the freedom that did not experienced. We must be thankful for what They did so for us as a credit to THEIR deeds, we must love our country and our values. Serve our country and fellowmen first before others. We must not waste THEIR sacrifices for us.

I left the theater with a smile on my face and felt very blessed for being a Filipino. I made a promise that I would serve my country.

The One

You make me smile when I'm sad

You make me fine when I'm mad

You're the one who really cares

Beside me who cast my fears

I hate this stupid feeling

But it's a wonderful thing

And I feel that I fall for you

I hope you feel the same way too

I love you my angel

And it's hard for me to tell

Just tell me you love me too

I will stay right beside you

I can not believe that it's you

I remember you everything I do

Why do I feel this way

So please do not go away

I never expect that I will feel

This feeling that is real

Every night I'm thinkin 'of you

I hope you're thinking me too...

I think I already found the one. (C) Pauline Gutierrez

PUP Mabini Media Awards: Star-studded Awarding Ceremony

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ College of Communication students commemorate Gat Apolinario Mabini’s 150^th birth year by giving the first ever PUP Mabini Media Awards during the Young Communicators’ Congress which was held last Thursday, February 13, 2014 at PUP Bulwagang Balagtas.

YCC was said to be the most awaited event of the year of the polytechnic university especially to the communication students who wore their best dresses and suits for the event. According to Dr. Edna T. Bernabe, the college dean, the prominent event gave and attributed the best network, best media practitioners, best programs in media world – television, radio, print, online and in advertising.  Rite

The 42 spectacular awards in five different media winners were the following:

PUP Mabini Awards for Radio:

Best Radio News Program: Gising Pilipinas! – DZMM

Best Radio Public Service Program: Aksyon Ngayon – DZMM

Best Radio News Commentary Program: Dos Por Dos – DZMM

Best News Program Host: Ricky Rosales – DZMM

Best Public Service Program Host: Julius Babao

Best Radio News Commentary Program Host: Anthony Taberna – DZMM

Best FM Radio Program: True Love Conversation (TLC) – 90.7 Love Radio

Best Male Radio Jock: Papa Jack – 90.7 Love Radio

Best Female Radio Jock: Nicole Hyala- 90.7 Love Radio

AM Radio Station of the Year: DZMM – ABS-CBN

FM Radio Station of the Year: 90.7 Love Radio –Manila Broadcasting Company

PUP Mabini Awards for Print:

Best Broadsheet Newspaper: Manila Bulletin

Best Tabloid Newspaper: Pilipino Star Ngayon

Best Entertainment Magazine: Yes! Magazine – Summit Media

Best Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine: Candy Magazine – Summit Media

PUP Mabini Awards for Print:

Best Blog: Pinoy Mom Blogger

Best Online News Portal: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Best Social Network: Facebook

Best Search Engine: Google.com

PUP Mabini Awards for Advertising:

Best Inspirational Advertisement: Hurray for Today – McDonald's

Best Family – Oriented Advertisement: “Kuya” – McDonald's

Best Advocacy Campaign: Choose Philippines – ABS-CBN

PUP Mabini Awards for Television (News and Public Affairs):

Best Television News Program: TV Patrol – ABS-CBN

Best Television Magazine Program: Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho – GMA

Best Television Public Service Program: Wish Ko Lang! – GMA

Best Television Public Affairs Program: Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) – ABS-CBN

Best Television Documentary Program: I Witness –GMA

Best Television Morning Program: Umagang Kay Ganda –ABS-CBN

Best Television Male News Anchor: Ted Failon of TV Patrol – ABS-CBN

Best Television Female News Anchor: Jessica Soho of State of the Nation- GMA News TV

Best Television Male News Reporter: Jay Taruc – GMA News TV

Best Television Female News Reporter: Gretchen Malalad – ABS-CBN

Best Television Magazine Program Host: Jessica Soho of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho – GMA

Best Television Public Affairs Program Host: Mel Tiangco of Power House- GMA News TV

PUP Mabini Awards for Television (Entertainment):

Best Television Drama Program: Be Careful with My Heart – ABS-CBN

Best Television Comedy Program: Bubble Gang – GMA

Best Television Variety Program: Eat Bulaga – GMA and Tape Inc.

Best Television Educational Program: Matanglawin – ABS-CBN

Best Television Entertainment Talk Program: Gandang Gabi, Vice – ABS-CBN

Best Television Reality Program: Pilipinas Got Talent – ABS-CBN

PUP Mabini Awards Station of the Year: ABS-CBN

As the awards and trophies of recognition were given, stars who won the category received it wholeheartedly with appreciation and stood on the stage as inspirations to the future communication experts and gave their acceptance speech.

Together with Dr. Bernabe, Dr. Emmanuel De Guzman joined the award-giving body as he gave the trophies to the winners.

PUP Mabini Media Awards were attended by famous personalities that made the event more exciting. The placed transformed into a big dome as every star appeared on the stage to get their award and made the crowd livelier as (according to the appearance on stage) Atty. Regie Tongol (who gave the keynote address in proxy of Dr. Daniel Razon) of UNTV, Anthony Taberna (who served as a speaker on Radio as Legacy Media vs. New Media), 90.7 Love Radio Jocks Papa Jack, Nicole Hyala, Chris Tsuper, Kristine Dera, Diego Bandido, Shai Tisai and Raqi Terra, Ricky Rosales of DZMM, Betong Sumaya and Diego Llorico of Bubble Gang, Bernadette Sembrano and Winnie Cordero of Umagang Kay Ganda, Jay Taruc and Mel Tiangco of GMA News, Janella Salvador, Jerome Ponce, Marlo Mortel from Be Careful with my Heart, Kuya Kim of Matanglawin, Anjo Yllana and Ryzza Mae Dizon of Eat Bulaga and Ted Failon of TV Patrol appeared.

Winners who claimed their awards were voted by among 2,436 students of PUP in a survey using their Student Information System (SIS) account in the university’s website. In line of the survey, the dean assured that the online voting system was accurate in partnership of the University’s Information and Communication Office.

            The 3^rd Young Communicators’ Congress was attended by 850 communication students of four courses namely Broadcast Communication, Research, Journalism and Advertising and Public Relations.

See, Each... Oh, See!

I slowly opened my eyes, tightly squeezing my pillow against my chest. I turned my head to the side where our window is placed. I see a dark figure of a man sitting on a chair with his head facing towards me. Although I can’t make out his face because of the bright summer sun, I know who this guy is. It’s the figure of the man I want, the one I’m looking for. A man with dark complexion. A man with a height of 5’10”. A pair of black-framed eyeglasses gently rests on his mature looking face. And the eyes, deep and black, try to tell me something. As I look deeper and deeper into this figure’s eyes, I can see that he loves me. I stare at him. Our eyes talk, as if it were us talking, then my eye asks “How much do I know you?”

The day he came into my life. My love, Choc, is the most wonderful person that I know. I couldn’t ask for more since I have met him. We almost know each other for nine months already. And for seven months, he is always making me feel special each day I am with him. In simple but special ways that he’s doing, I always feel ‘kilig.’

We first met in a social networking application called ‘WeChat’ and knowing that we’re going to be classmates in college makes our conversation starts. In fact, we treat each other as siblings since we learned that our birth dates are consecutive.

The first day of college entered and since I already knew him, I saved a chair beside me at the back part of the classroom. Since then, we became seatmates and best friends. As the days progressed on, we became friends with our other seatmates at the back of the room and built friendship with them. We call our group Tropang Likod.

Unlike other guys in my class, Choc is simple. He has hair that looks greyish due to his black and white hair strands. He combs it using only his right hand. And when he laughs, his eyes sparkle and his smile reaches his ears. He attends classes with simple t-shirts and maong pants. His Bench body bag hangs through his upper half body. One of hands holds his handkerchief, which is usually blue-striped. His white “Fall Out Boy” wristband is playing on his left wrist. But when he wears his blue t-shirt with his surname on it, I think it’s the coolest thing in the world. He stands with a height of a basketball player, making me look so small and short. His prank jokes and punch lines make me laugh. He always has something to say.

He loves to play basketball, both in computer and in real life. He plays DoTA too with his circle of friends. Though there are times that I get jealous, thinking that he spends more time with his friends playing than with me. Okay. What I love when we’re together is that we talk, like friends together, with no one interfering. We get the chance to know each other more. We laugh together. We giggle together. One more thing that I love about him is that when he is saying something to me, he says it with a sincere heart. I can see it in his eyes…

He stands up from sitting on his chair and walks toward. Behind him, the window lets the warm summer sunlight comes in. He snatches the pillow I was holding. He starts talking,

“Come on Mrs. Dantes, stand up. I’ve already prepared breakfast for you.” I obey him and stand up, slowly wearing my slippers. As I look up this towering man, I could see his arms about to wrap themselves around me and his lips moving towards my forehead. I could hear the words “I love you Baby” coming from his mouth as they left a warm kiss on my forehead.

Now, if you are wondering what is the connection of the title with this article, read the title again. Slowly. Now, what do you get?

Before I Die...

Every person in this world is going to die. We do not know where or when or how. It will just come, unexpectedly. Now, this is the list of 17 things I want to do before I die. BUT it does not mean that if I already do these things, it's okay for me to die. No.. It's a big no.

# 17: I want to travel the whole Philippines. Yeah! It's my pleasure to travel and to discover the inner beauty of my country. I want to see the blessings that God has given to our country.

# 16: I want to ride on a ' gig '. It's true. I have not experience to ride on it. Some of my friends say that there is a gig on the Luneta. One day, I will go there and ride on it until I get fed up to it.

# 15: I want to go to Alaska. I just want to experience for once in my lifetime the feeling of winter season. I want to build a snowman and to ski.

# 14: I want to learn how to bike. YES! I do not know how to drive a bicycle. Since I was a kid, it is my dream to have a bicycle and to drive it on my own.

# 13: I want to learn how to paint. It have started when I have seen a painting of a beautiful view in a mall. That day, my dream for being an artist starts. I have a talent in drawing and I will love When it will lead me to learn how to paint.

# 12: I want to play a piece using a piano. I know how to read notes and play it on the piano but I am not good at it. I can play good with my right hand but my left can not play it fine.

# 11: I want to receive a bouquet of rose, or maybe a piece of rose will do. Ah! How romantic right?

# 10: I want to go to Makati City and watch for the "Dancing Christmas Lights". They say that it is very beautiful and an amazing show.

# 9: I want to watch a band concert who I idolize together with my special someone. It's good to sing along with a band while in holding hands with the one you love.

# 8: I want to spread the word of God. Inspire others with His good examples. To be a good missionary is a pleasure and an honor.

# 7: I want to have a dance with my Dad. I really love my dad and since I have grown without him, it will be a good experience to have a dance with him.

# 6: I want to finish my study and have a stable work. I want to provide my mother and my grandmother's needs have since They took care of us. Now, it's time to give back what They need.

# 5: I want to have my own house. So I can do what I want, since my mom, my brother and I are living with our extended family. Our actions are limited.

# 4: I want to write in a famous, publishing company. Or, I want to be the writer of a movie screen. Wow. It is a dream to work with a director, artists, producers and etc..

# 3: I want to have an interview with a famous and inspiring person. I want to ask him / her how he / she can manage to be a role model, and the same, a famous person. One more thing, I want to take a picture with him / her.

# 2: I want to experience a romantic and sweet moment for once. Isn't it amazing and surprising?

# 1: I want to marry in the temple with the one I really love, who loves me too, with whom I will grow old with, and who will be there for me for the rest of my life. There, we will take care of our children, we will teach them good lessons and to have faith in God. ♡ ♡ ♡

We only have one life here on earth. We must live it to the fullest with the one we love. And as long as you are not stepping anyone, do what you want. Strive to be happy!

2013 Taught Me..

Before January ends, I want to look back for all the memories I experienced and achieved in the year 2013.

January 2013: It's my first time to go to Other, Zambales. I attended the Outbreak Camp and Retreat. I had lots of experiences here and got time to bond along with my classmates and friends. This experience tested my social character. I lived for two months with different people and had time to know them better.

February 2013: This was the day I first went to PUP. This event would change my entire life and determine. I took an exam with nothing reviewed. I prayed hard that God would guide me. In this important event taught me to trust and had faith in God.

March 2013: One of most memorable days of my year 2013. When I experienced this was a fairy tale night and a successful night. I had my first promenade's night where I dressed like a princess. This was also the day I graduated, the day when i hugged my mom tightly and thanked her for being there for me all throughout. This taught me that dreams do come true.

April 2013: The time when i went to PUP for the second time. I passed the test and I enrolled as a freshman student myself on my own. My patience was tested here. After all the stops and starts, I was enrolled.

May 2013: Yes, at last. I could feel the true meaning of summer. We went to our province in Sorsogon and it's my first time. I was very excited at this time. In this event, I Learned to cook for our family, wash our clothes, and to swim.

June 2013: My college days started here. New friends and teachers were waiting for me. The new chapter of my life had begun. I was very happy to be these people with the same interests I had. I had also learned to associate with these people with different beliefs.

July 2013: The day I got fallen. It was very hard to take a risk. I did not know what would happen after this. Still, I took that risk and now I was not regretting my decision with. This taught me that love was not only about a lover's relationship, it's about friendship.

August 2013: This was the day when we celebrated our College's Week and also our birth month. Mine and his birthday were celebrated During this month. Our section also joined the festival contest are priority Buglasan we danced the Dance. Our Perseverance and patience were tested here.

September 2013: In this year, our school days were Spent with practices. These practices were for play that would be held in October. Our unity was tested here. Though we sometimes misunderstood and fought each other but at the end of the day, we fixed our misunderstandings and became one again.

October 2013: First semester had ended, sembreak was coming. We play our Presented entitled "Les Miserables" and we got a grade of 1. I also evaluated my professors with THEIR accomplishments in teaching us. My evaluation skills were tested here.

November 2013: The second semester started here. New professors were coming. This was also the time I enrolled myself and helped my classmates who could not enroll. It felt good to help someone without any payment. I also renewed my scholarship here and my patience was tested again in this situation.

December 2013: This was the day when i saved some money just to give some gifts to my special ones. Though there were times I was tempted to buy unimportant things, I fought it and fortunately, I overcame it.

The year would end soon. And I had learned a lot from all the experiences I had. I am looking forward for another year with blessings and experiences that will teach me a lot of lessons.

On the Wings of Love

Where does love begins? When you see someone and you become attracted to him/her? When the cupid’s arrow hits your heart? Or when someone steals your heart from you? No, the answer is, love begins at home.

Someone tells me that the best treasure she has is her family. It is the best gift that she has ever received in her entire life. Her family gives her the true meaning of love. She also believes that “Family is forever”.

She’s right. Love begins at home. Love begins with our family. Parents show their love and affection to their children by taking care of them and providing their needs. They are their first teacher, friend, comforter and even their superhero while, the children make their parents happy and serve as the stress reliever. It’s the true meaning of give-and-take relationship without noticing. It’s the real love.

Love is not only shown in a lover or sweetheart’s relationship but if you will see it in a wider view, family teaches us to love. They are the first people who show us how to love. The relationship with our family never ends.

Behind Captain America's Mask

I have met and still falling in love with a superhero.

Unlike any famous superheroes, Captain America seems to have no superhuman powers but instead a transformation of strength into beyond natural human potential. He only has this “nigh-indestructible disc-shaped shield made from an experimental alloy of steel and the fictional vibranium” which he uses as his offensive throwing weapon during his fights.

Unlike Captain America who undergoes in different trainings that make him stronger and looks like a perfect superhero, he may not have the hot body or the angelic face or the shield of Captain America, but he has the strength and the heart. Tall. Dark. Handsome? Nah. I know he doesn’t look perfect to you as Captain America or like any of your dream boys, but he does look perfect to me.

Meet and greet with my own version of Captain America: Choc. A basketball player. A son. A classmate. A big brother. A best friend. A man with a big height and a big heart.

Like Captain America, Choc has been in different obstacles and trials but he is still holding firm to his shield of faith and perseverance. He has passed through some disappointments and frustrations in life, still, he stands strong. Behind his smiles and jokes are the problems that he bears. He always keeps these behind his jolly and brave mask. He doesn't want to bother anyone with his problems. He just keeps these with himself.

Like this superhero, he is very busy in extending his hands to others; not only by helping, but by striking every key in the keyboard, busy playing DOTA and League of Legends with his friends. And for that, he doesn’t have time for his love life. I don’t care. As long as he’s happy, I let him. It’s the only time when he can escape from his own problems.

I know that behind that mask, there are things that I do not know about him. He is secretive and very mysterious but still I love him very much. I will be his Black Widow who will always be there to listen to you, understand and care for you. I know it’s not the perfect time to say that it’s forever, but I will do my best to be his forever Black Widow. Dr. Abraham Erskine once said, “The strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows... compassion.”

I know he can do it and surpass all the fights and troubles that he will encounter in life. I have faith in him that he will be a good and brave superhero like Captain America who doesn't have any superhuman powers but the strength and the perseverance that make him overcome those obstacles. I know behind his Captain America mask, I will still love him and be here with him no matter what.

A Brother's Love

“You’ll always be beautiful in my eyes.”

My brother is singing this song with full of love while I am staring at him. All I can see is his eye which seems its telling that he is very happy. Shocks! My brother is in love, someone steals my brother’s heart.

A student. A friend. A boy friend. A son. All they can see is an Aries Villanueva as a brave and friendly person. A person who sometimes cracks corny jokes, says that he is handsome and a type of your Prince Charming. He might be a girl’s dream boy, indeed, he is. But what they see is I cannot see. What I see is not a funny person but a serious man. Not a handsome boy but a fine-looking man. Not your type of a Prince Charming-guy, not a friend or else but a brother and at the same time, a father.

My brother, Aries, has been always there for me and my mom as the father of the family since the age of 12. He’s always there for my mom when she needs someone who will comfort her. He’s always there for me when I need someone who will help me with my home works when I was a kid.

As his sister, I can tell that he is a serious person. Yes, he sometimes gives jokes but he is very protective and strict. He doesn't want anyone to hurt me and he always wants me to stay at home rather than going to somewhere else. He is a fine-looking man. He looks very attractive and appealing, physically. How much more his attitudes? He is a very kind, caring, sweet and lovable person. What more can you ask for? Lastly, he’s not your type of Prince Charming or dream boy, but your ideal mate. Once you know him better, I’m telling you, you will pray to God that he’s your soul mate.

We are very, very lucky to have him in our family. And I am very, very lucky to have him as my brother. Although we fight often, I know that he loves me and I love him, too.

Friends are Like...

Good friends are like stars. You do not always see them, but you know they're always there.

It is really true that "No man is an island". For five months since I enter college, I do not have enough time to see and bond with my four best friends in high school. And we call our group CaMeRiCa and Lei.

CaMeRiCa and Lei is a girl group composed of five girls including myself - Angelica, Melanie, Rizza, Jessica and Leddaisha. Our group is formed during our fourth year in high school. It's just our surnames are in the last part of the class list and we start to form and build our friendship.

Melanie Tuvera or simply 'Melai', is the clown of the group. She always cracks a joke and makes us laugh harder in a serious situation. She is also the one who always tells us about her crush, Patrick Oliver, who is our batch mate, with the code name given by Melai of Pop. Anyway, she is chubby but a gorgeous girl. Now, she is taking up the course of BS Accountancy in Polytechnic University of the Philippines. I idolized her for being good in math and for being a kind, caring and cool best friend to the four of us.

Rizza Volante, also Called as Ria, also a BS Math student in PUP, Math is the real wizard of the group. Whoa! She is our idol in Math for being one of the representatives of our school in math contests during high school. She is also a chess player. She is the type of girl that you want to talk about with love stories in e-books and you can always give a joke to her for it is easy to make her laugh. What I love about her is that you can go to her in times of need. She'll listen to us if we have something to tell, Whether it is a problem or a story. She's indeed a treasure of our group.

Jessica Sincero, we call her Kaka, is a Med Tech students in Manila Central University. She is the "kikay" girl of the group. Together with Melai, she tends to look for 'veewhy' or handsome boys. Sounds funny right? It's funnier When she almost run just to follow a cute guy in SM Megamall last year. Anyway, she is a slim girl, okay, sexy girl who I love to talk about with my heartbreaking story. She can relate to me as well when we are in the fourth year. We have the same love story. I love her for being my shoulder-to-cry on when i am in part of moving on.

Lastly, Mary Jane Leddaisha Retuba, she is studying an Education course in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig. She is the artist of the group in terms of arts, literally. She can draw, paint, lettering, color, etcetera. All we can say to her is that is "Wow! Just wow! What a talented girl." She is jolly, funny, and a sentimental girl. She appreciates every little thing we do. She laughs and giggles every time. She loves us so much and we love her so much, too.

Though we have lots of differences and interests, still, we love each other and have the friendship that we really treasure. I love them so much that I almost treat them as my sisters. I'll always be here for them no matter what. I know that they are always there for me, I too although I do not always see them.