Friday, 28 December 2012

Infinite



Infinite

          December 12, 2012. 5:04 PM. My phone went ringing. It blasted of All Time Low’s Somewhere in Neverland.

“Hello? Yeah, speaking. Who’s this? Oh really? How did you know that? Where and when? Okay, see you!”
 
Wonder who called? I don’t know if you’ll believe me but it’s Galileo Galilei. Haha, I’m funny right? Too bad, I’m not joking. This is what he said.

“Hello. May I speak to Airah? Oh this id Galileo Galilei. You can call me Gale. I’m not kidding. I really am Galileo and I know that you’re thinking that I copied Hans Lippershey’s work. Oh it’s getting tired. I’ve told. It’s because I’m Galileo. By the way, can you meet me tomorrow afternoon? I just want to hang out with the new generation. I want to feel young again. I know you have questions for me. Meet me at Mines View Park at Baguio. Could you make it? Okay then, see you too.”

Would you believe it? I have a date with “Gale” tomorrow.

So here I am in Mines View Park, looking for a guy that might be a figment of my imagination or a prankster. Just then, a teen guy approached me. “Are you Airah?” he said and I nodded. “I’m Gale, Galileo Galilei”. I analyzed his face and realized that he is a younger version of the Galileo’s I’ve seen in pictures or portraits. “Oh, hi, nice meeting you.”


 We sat there at the park and ate some junk foods. He really liked them because they’re new to him. I started interrogating him. I asked him if he really copied Lippershey’s work, the telescope. He said that he didn’t. It was really his idea and he didn’t know that Lippershey had already done it. And besides, Gale is still the first one who used it to view the celestial bodies.


We talked about random things then until it got dark. He brought out a telescope and we gazed at the stars. They are really beautiful. I asked him how he felt when he first saw the stars in his telescope but he didn’t answer. I was able to locate only one constellation, the Orion, and one star, Alnilam which is the middle star in Orion’s belt. He laughed and taught me about the constellations and stars. He also told me about the myths about those. I felt like it was the most magical and wonderful night of my life.

Gale drove me home in his black and electric blue Lamborghini Gallardo. He opened the car door for me and walked me to our doorstep. Before he left he said the when he first saw the stars up close “I felt infinite”.

School Rules Are Not Made To Be Broken

Mistakes. We do these things every day. We slip, we flip, we trip. Nobody’s perfect and I guess everybody knows that. Life may be a long difficult test where we make mistakes but there would always be a lesson after each fault.

School is a place almost all naughty children hate. It’s a society where we thrive to survive. And of course, there are the mistakes we do – even if we’re aware of it or no.

I’m lazy. I know I am and I’m a little bit disappointed with myself but I can’t seem to change it. So let’s imagine that we get punished each time we show a sign of slothfulness. Is being electrified a fair punishment? Nah-ah. I’m just kidding. Let’s just say that if there is someone “sloth-ing” around in school, he’ll be cleaning the classroom for a whole week and he’ll be called twenty times in recitation in each class and he must answer correctly or he’ll answer more questions next meeting. In that way he’ll know how hard it is to clean and he’ll study in every class. I’m sure survival instincts will kick in and he’ll never be lazy again.

Traffic is really not an excuse when you’re late. If you know there’s traffic on your way to school, you know better than to sleep until noon. You should wake up early so you won’t be caught in the rush hour or if you would be, you have enough time to spare. And when you’re caught tardy, I guess you’ll have to have your own flag ceremony in the cafeteria during lunch break. You know the hang of it – you’ll have a prayer then the national anthem, then the school hymn, then exercise and some food for thought. I guess you words of wisdom there should be about tardiness.

Lying is one of the worst things in the world. Even a white lie could create great problems so you should avoid lying in the first place.  Honesty is the best policy right? It may sound like a cliché but it’s so true. If anyone would be caught red-handed lying, he would walk around the school for a week with an “I’m a liar” banner on his uniform. That way, people would be careful in trusting him.

Being rude doesn’t really make you look cool. It makes you look like a kid who grew up in the streets with no parents to teach him how to respect others. Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you. If you want anyone o respect you, you should learn how to respect others first. If anyone would be rude to other people in school, he’ll need to send his parents to the guidance office. He’ll also need to say greetings to anyone he meet or pass by in school. If anyone would report that he did not greet him, he’ll be suspended for a week.


Anger and Violence are the next two things they may sound like the same thing but they aren’t. Anger is about have this fire on you that you can’t tame. It’s an emotion which is hard to control. Violence is about hurting other people – intentional or not. You can be angry but not violent, you can be violent without being angry and you can be angry and violent at the same time. If you committed the “anger sin” you’ll have a class in the library – all alone with the grouchiest teacher in school. I know for a fact that he’ll keep on ranting on you. So you need to control your anger or you’ll be rude which will be a different story. If you’ll be violent, you’ll need to spend all your school hours inside the principal’s office. You’ll study there – self-study for a month. You will also have a test in all subjects every end of the day. You can ask the principal for clarifications – if you want and if you’re courageous enough.


Greed is another sin hateful to me. Why is there a need to be greedy? Why can’t everyone just have an equal share and that’s it. For me, greed is an irrational emotion – I think it comes straight from hell. It’s never for a good cause and will never be right. Now so much for my I-hate-greed speech, I need to carry on. If anyone will be greedy in the campus - and hope there won’t be any- he’ll need to eat every wood in the forest. Hehe. That would be gross. Seriously speaking, he’ll give back seven-hold of the thing he wants or greed for. I think he would never be greedy for anything again.

Cutting is something I had never done and would never do in my life. You’re a given a chance to go to school, feed that hollow brain of yours with your parents working hard for your needs. And how do you pay them back? By getting out of school to escape your classes! Where’s the sense in that? You would never learn anything if you do that. So if anyone would be caught cutting classes, he would have his classes just outside the school gate. If he won’t be there when the school guard check, he would need another school to accept him.

Cheating is a crime. All your classmates work hard for the exams and then you would cheat? You’re not that lucky to get away with it. I really don’t want to talk about cheaters because they make me want to throw up on the faces. They’ll be hanged to lessen the population. But kidding aside, they would be kicked out of the school right away.

Committing a sin is never a good thing but you must learn from it. Never do the same mistake again because that would be a good evidence to show how foolish you are. Who knows maybe hell is true and you’ll spend an eternity being punished.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Untitled Love Letter




Untitled Love Letter

Dear Shorty Shepherd,


          I know, I know, I don’t have the right to call you shorty because you’re taller than me. But this is my letter and I’ll call whatever I want. Lalalalala~

I admit that I have this little crush thingy for you. Listen up because this might be the last time I’ll say this to you – you are really nice, cute and funny to be with.

The first time I saw you, you were picking up medals in every contest you join. I know you are freakin’ intelligent and I sometimes wonder why it took you centuries to figure out that I like you – really like you.

You told me that you have a crush on me. Well, you even told me you “love” me. That’s a big bomb that exploded right in front of me. It was like my mind is yelling that there must be some mistake or something.  But there was no mistake. You’re really there telling me all those sweet little things.

You make my heart flutter and beat faster. You even cause butterflies to fly in my stomach. You make me feel liked and cared for. And finally, you make me feel that I belong – that there is a place in this world where I am welcome.

I really like the way you make snide comments even though they are sometimes irritating. I love the way you smell and the softness of your voice.

Okay. I know I’m a little bit exaggerated here but that’s what you do to me. I tend to be a little out of my mind whenever I think of you.

My most unforgettable moment with you happened last field trip. I really felt drained, drowsy and dizzy. You let me sleep leaning on your shoulders. I really think that was so sweet of you. Thank you.

But I’m not sure about the “love” thing. I think were too young to understand what it really is. I once believed that when two people love each other, everything was going to be fine. I was wrong.

I want you to be sure of your feelings. When you tell me that you love me, I want you to mean it, not just say it for the sake of saying something. If you’re thinking that I’m saying this because of what “he” did, you’re wrong. I’m saying this because I care for you. I don’t want you to be hurt.

So when things settle down and you realize what you really feel, tell me. I’ll be there to listen and understand. If you insist that you really love me, don’t just say it - prove it.

Stay awesome, Edward.~

Yours truly,
Nymph Jean ^.^

  

Sunday, 7 October 2012



My Hero, Our Heroes

`“Where are you now? ‘Cause I’m thinking of you...you showed me how...how to live like I do.”

`Do you still remember your kindergarten teacher? I know we don’t give it much thought- how our first teachers taught us the most basic thing we need to learn, things that we still remember now.

`I could still remember all the teachers I’ve had. Ma’am Pearly was my teacher in kindergarten; Ma’am Alaman in grade 1 and 2; Ma’am Feby in grade 3 and grade 6; Ma’am Irene in grade 4; Ma’am Ava in grade 5; Ma’am Jennylou in first year high school; Ma’am Jennette in second year and, of course, Ma’am Arceo in third year.

Every single teacher we’ve had taught us more than one important lesson. They let us learn from our mistakes and stand up every time we fall. Teachers don’t just teach knowledge from the book. There are things more important than finding LCDs and knowing the path of blood in the body. These things are the lessons from experience- from life itself.

Teachers are our second parents. We actually spend more waking hours in school than in our own house. Teachers watch us grow- physically and mentally. They teach us, they guide us, they love us.

One teacher I really can’t forget is Ma’am Pareja. She may be a strict teacher but that’s just because she wants us to be disciplined. She said to us more than once “You will not feel fear if you did not do anything wrong.” I’ve learned so many things from her- things which I doubt if the thickest book in the library had.

My mom, who is also a teacher, asked me once why Ma’am Pareja wasn’t applying as a principal. So, I asked Ma’am Pareja and her answer was she just wants to teach as a plain teacher. She wants to get close to students. I also asked her why she is teaching freshmen instead of older students and she said that younger students are easier to mold than the older ones-they are more obedient. She is the wisest teacher I’ve met. She knows how to make a student admit the wrong thing he did by just talking to him. She knows students’ body language. She knows if they are listening or not, if they understand or not and whatever going on in the student’s mind during her class.

Teachers are not just teachers. They are mothers. They are friends. They are heroes. They save students from ignorance. They open their eyes to knowledge. And they also teach the students how to face the “real world”. They give us lessons that can’t be reflected in class cards but those which reflect on how we carry ourselves in our daily lives.

“If it wasn’t for you I’ll I would never be who I am...”

Sunday, 23 September 2012

tO bE oR nOt tO bE . . . ?


tO bE oR nOt tO bE . . . ?

To be or not to be?
I cannot understand what’s happening to me
I do not know what to do anymore
Will I just forget what had happened before?

To be or not to be?
I cannot make my mind you see
It’s possible that this one is right
But why on the other I can also see the light?

To be or not to be?
Yesterday I’ve felt life’s beauty
But today the only thing left is hurt
And it is because you broke my heart…
To be or not to be?

To forget is better than to remember, maybe?
Remembering is like being tied to the past with a chain
While forgetting makes you face tomorrow without pain…



Friday, 7 September 2012

Nobody’s Perfect



Nobody’s Perfect

        Comedy of Errors, what do you expect? Of course it would be funny and full of errors. The first time I read the summary of this play, I kept repeating the lines to myself then going to the list of characters. It was really confusing to tell who’s who.

        You see, there are two set of twins, the first twins have the same name, Antipholus, while the other twins were named Dromio. They got separated and one Antipholus and one Dromio grew up together while the other Antipholus and the other Dromio grew up together. Now, that was just one out of the hundreds of confusing facts and parts of the play.

        But, even though the story was funny, it shows golden lessons. One of those is that you can gain your liberty by telling the truth instead of money, which is by paying the bail. This happened to Egeon, the father of the Antipholus twins. Another lesson was the way you correct your mistakes weighs greater than the mistakes themselves. We should remember that nobody’s perfect. We should not see a person’s imperfections and focus in the best part of him.

Monday, 3 September 2012

NCAE : Guide To Our Future


NCAE : Guide To Our Future

        NCAE, an acronym for National Career Assessment Examination, is like a golden map that leads us to our future. It can help us choose what vocation we want to take after high school.


            This exam was created to determine the students’ assets that could help him/her in the near future. With NCAE, we could more easily choose the course or courses we want to take in college.


           NCAE helps us choose, but it is not the one deciding for us. Even if it says that you are good in clerical jobs, but you want a field job when you grow up, you can ignore the exam’s result and pursue your dream.


Intramurals: an Oasis in School


Intramurals: an Oasis in School

        Homeworks. Projects. Seatworks. Exams. Where’s the fun?

        After months of brain-draining school works, intramurals is one of the ways to replete the students’ spirit. This event does not only ensure the physical fitness of the students but their mental fitness as well.

        Intramurals can give the students to excel in their chosen sports- or even discover the sport where they have talent in. we could guess that most athletes played the sport where they shined during their sweet high school days. Who knows maybe as we conduct the yearly intramurals a student found a missing part of his soul in the sport he played and will soon shine as the newest representative of the Philippines in the international Olympics.

        Intramurals can also build bond between students and develop their sportsmanship. We win, we lose. It doesn’t matter- what matters is that we had fun and enjoyed ourselves while playing.

Intramurals must be enjoyed because, first, it’s just once a year. And, second, because it is one of those blissful breaks from schoolworks. ;)



Saturday, 18 August 2012

Nationality or Practicality?



Nationality or Practicality?

        English, the universal language may just be the second major language in the Philippines. But most Filipinos will not be able to communicate clearly without uttering a single English word. We use English language more often in our everyday activity than our mother tongue. So, we may say that being fluent in English is better than being able to master our mother tongue. We can use it to get a better job. It is also “cool” to speak a foreign language fluently.

        On the contrary, mastery in our mother tongue shows nationality and patriotism. Some may say that we should master our native language first before learning foreign ones. We could say that it is fun being quaint, knowing deep native tongue words that others don’t even know.

        In my opinion, it is better if we have fluency in English, even though it is not our own. I love my country but, I’m a practical person and I can say that fluency in English can help me in the future than mastery of my mother tongue.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Love's Promise




Love’s Promise


“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~Corinthians 13:4-8

Nathaniel glanced at the house, no, mansion, where she used to live. It is a different world from his. He will wait for her while slowly making his way to reach her world. She lived in a mansion with sparkling chandeliers, maids that were summoned by just clapping and a coupe with an ever waiting butler to attend to her every need. But it is also a world where everyone’s under surveillance, people can’t be themselves because the elite society demands elegance and finesse – a faitour to appease the affluent crowd.

On the other hand, Nathaniel’s world is full of knave people, a world where only the strong ones survive. It was where people just have enow money to last a day- a day with only a single meal. He lived in a vacuous and grungy house, no, hut- just enough accommodation for a night’s sleep and a shelter during harsh weather.

But fate has its own way of twisting lives. One day, Nathaniel was hired by Rachel’s mother to fix a ruined part of their garden. He was focused in his work when he heard a sweet tune of flute filling the air. He glanced at the window above him and saw a pair of hazel eyes staring back at his dark ones. She has long black hair that was currently dancing due to the wind. His heart skipped a beat when the soft pink lips curved into a gentle smile. He unconsciously smiled back and dropped the tool he had been using. She raised her hand as if to tell him to wait for her. After a few minutes, she emerged from the mansion into the garden.

That was the beginning of their secret rapport. They were having a tryst, a rendezvous in the mansion’s garden in the midst of the night. They had tried to make their affair inconspicuous. Rachel always wore a babushka in her hair to appear like a servant whenever she escapes. She liked being with Nate, as she calls Nathaniel, because he is a buffoon, most of the time he will blurt out a random topic and start funny piffles. Whenever she was around him, she knows that she can drop her façade, being taciturn and coy, and be herself.

      But happy moments do not last very long, because Rachel’s parents discovered that their contumacious daughter had a secret relationship with a boy who lived in a slum area. Her mother vociferated that they did not give her a superfluous life just to have it ruined by a gold-digging poor rat. They decided to send her to US as soon as possible and let her study there.

      That night, Nathaniel found a letter in their old meeting place. A promise that she will return to claim back the love they had shared. “Even jokers do cry”, he muttered as streams of tears run down his cheeks. “I promise to persevere and cross to you world. I will wait for you . . . even for a lifetime.”

Second Quarter


Sunday, 29 July 2012

Remembering YOU




Remembering YOU


I’m hopeless, I don’t even know what to do
I’m tired of staying away from you
I know I’ll always be blue
‘Coz there is no way that I can reach you


It hurts  to remember the days when we were together
We’ll never be the same ever
Your memory will stay with me forever
No, I’ll not forget you-never


We were in the same place, but you’re miles away
I can’t bring you back whatever I say
I’m wondering if this really the end
For now you don’t even treat me as a friend


That last call of yours I’ll never forget
Those words that proclaim your regret
Your voice lacking the usual love that day
I never thought that you’d walk away


All I have today is our memories so sweet
I cannot do anything but to accept defeat
You are the love I lost
The love I love the most

Friday, 20 July 2012

It’s Never Too Late


It’s Never Too Late

          If the world’s going to be destroyed, will you just sit there, wait and watch? Aren’t you going to do anything, other than breathing- which technically adds carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and makes the earth hotter? If they, or we, are so sure that the world is going to end are we going to give up without even fighting and struggling- making a change?

          The earth is now experiencing, suffering, the consequences of human actions. Because of our endless use of plastics and commercial product which have chlorofluorocarbons. We can’t even control our own population which can cause more pollution.

          No one can deny that earth’s present condition is the result of our reckless actions. Now, we can’t undo the past so let us do ‘something’ at present which could make the future world better.

          We need to plant more trees to convert the ever increasing amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Trees could also prevent floods and landslides. And of course, we also need to stop cutting trees that are still young and useful. We need trees if we want to survive earth’s catastrophes.

          Second, we need to segregate our wastes and recycle anything and everything that could be recycled. We should stop throwing garbage in bodies of water if we still want to drink clean water.

          Last in this list but not in the things you can do, we should minimize plastic consumption and smoke belching. This may be a small thing for you but this is a big thing for our world.

          Act now and change for the better. Some would say that we couldn’t do anything anymore to stop earth’s destruction but we could, we should and we would. The earth’s future is in our hands, save it while we still can. Don’t lose hope because it’s always never too late.











Saturday, 14 July 2012

Romeo and Juliet & the Nurse


Romeo and Juliet     & the Nurse

            Romeo and Paris started to fight in front of Juliet’s tomb. Just then, he nurse appeared and was surprised to see the two men with bloody swords.  She cried while attempting to cease the fight. But Romeo and Paris were already fueled by their rage and were unstoppable. The Nurse realized that her efforts were futile and just kept on ranting about how Juliet wouldn’t like Romeo and Paris to kill each other over her dead body. She blabbed about nonsense stories about Juliet’s childhood. Just then, Juliet emerged from her grave and was surprised to see Romeo and Paris- who immediately stopped fighting- and the nurse who was still crying, laughing and rambling, oblivious to the fact that Juliet has awoke from her grave.

            The two gentlemen were surprised to see their beloved Juliet rise from her tomb. But as she raised her hand and stared intently at Romeo, he went to her and kissed her. Paris just stood there-dumbfounded.

            Friar Lawrence arrived at that very moment and led them all to town- including the Nurse who shrieked when she saw Juliet talking to Romeo. The friar helped Romeo and Juliet in explaining to Prince Escalus, the Montagues and the Capulets-with the Nurse interrupting at his every word. The Capulets tried to silence her but just as always she never does. She only shut her mouth when Prince Escalus threatened to put her to death-but still kept muttering to herself how rash the law is. The two families understood the hardships face by their children because of their nonsense feud and had accepted each other’s apologies and promised to be good friends-not only for their married children but also for the peace of Verona.

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Romeo & Juliet: Happy Ending?


Romeo & Juliet: Happy Ending?

            Have you ever heard of Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s classic plays? Did you like the ending? No? Of course! It’s a tragedy. We don’t want our protagonists to die, right? Well, here's an alternative ending for one of the most famous love stories of all time.


            As Paris puts flowers to Juliet’s grave he heard a whistle- a servants warning that someone is approaching. He hid himself under the darkness of the night. Then he saw Romeo and his servant, Balthasar. Romeo told Balthazar that he had come to Juliet’s grave to get a valuable ring he had given her and told him to deliver the message he wrote to his father. But Balthazar didn’t obey him and stayed in the churchyard.

            Meanwhile, Paris didn’t recognize Romeo. He wondered what this man was doing in front of Juliet’s tomb in the middle of the night. As he didn’t know what to do, Paris continued watching Romeo.

            Romeo stared at Juliet’s tomb while whispering agonies on how could Juliet leave him alone in this miserable world. Then he pulled the poison from his pocket and was about to drink it when Paris revealed himself. He asks Romeo his intentions and Romeo told him that his beloved Juliet left him so he must as well die beside her. Even though Paris was wondering who this man is and why he called Juliet- his fiancée- “beloved”, he pursued Romeo that Juliet wouldn’t be happy if he will waste his life on her. Romeo didn’t listen to him and was about to drink the poison again when Friar Lawrence appeared and stopped him. He explained to Romeo and Paris that Juliet is not really dead and will wake up in just a few minutes. Romeo didn’t believe him and thought that his friend friar was just trying to stop him from committing suicide. But Paris told him that if he doesn’t want to wait for Juliet then Paris will, so as to prove his love for her.

            Just then, Juliet lifts into consciousness and saw the three men. She ran towards Romeo and kissed him. Paris got surprised because Juliet was his fiancée. Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet explained to him how they got married and how they loved each other. Even though Paris discovered that Romeo was a Montague, he let Juliet go – so that she can be happy with the man she really loves. He also promised to help them explain to Prince Escalus, the Capulets and the Montagues.
            Paris fulfilled his promise and the two feuding families saw the consequences of their senseless rivalry. They allowed Romeo and Juliet to be remarried- grand this time- and they lived happily ever after.

            Happy ending? No. Because true love never ends. . .