…a rEactiOn?!...

“After I have read the story, “Love Is a Fallacy” by Max Schulman, I was really amazed! At first, I was some kind of a confused because there were some terms that I could not fully understand but because of the help of my beloved classmates, I have already understood some of them. As what I have observed, the main character there was a little bit boastful. I find him too much PROUD of HIMSELF. I know that he’s very intelligent but he must not boast it to everyone that he is like that or what so ever. Instead of having a boastful trait, he could probably have the trait which almost all people needs, ‘HUMILITY’”.
The story was simple though a touch of basic logic makes it complex. The situations are quite unique and the way the author thinks in formulating this short story involves association in everyday life and critical thinking. Thus, combined in the realization between what has been learned and what we had believed in. It has thought the reader several lesson to reflect and to take into account the facts and fallacies of life and love.
Let us first focus on things that we see and what we do not. The guy in the story was really, really smart despite of his young age (and this becomes one of his weaknesses in life). Yes, intellect he is . He lives his life with extreme preciseness and more. He believes he has the power to control things his way. He’s confident enough that his plan would work out well and that he could reap the fruits of his labor afterwards. He looks out the world considering only by physical things. He sees but neglect what is rather felt. He considered Polly as a fine poised and beautiful woman, but he underestimated her way of thinking. He taught Polly things he learned academically, hoping they would make her wise. He thought that if Polly would learn these, she would become perfect in his qualifications. But just as everything seemed to go his way, something went wrong. Polly had learned to think critically and therefore learns to become rational by the grounds of worldly thinking. His student has learned her lessons very well and by that, she becomes his nightmare. As if she had held him by the throat. She no longer believes in him when he said he loved her. She stresses out that what he felt for her isn’t reasonable enough. So she went back to Petey. Why? It’s because Petey has a raccoon. Isn’t that stupid?
For me, we should learn to separate love from any other things. Love is something that must be felt and not by physical. We should not place love with those things that need reasons for loving somebody requires no explanation. Yes, indeed no explanation because if you’ll try to explain why you loved that certain person, that love you felt can no longer be called love anymore, it’s somehow may be called an admiration, right?

"Love Is A Fallacy" Summary 2

The narrator talked with Petey, his roommate, in the university dormitory. Petey was having a crush with this particular girl named Polly Espy. He asked Petey if he was in love with Polly but Petey just said that he wasn't in love with her but he thinks that she is a keen kid. Since Petey liked a raccoon coat, and the narrator has this raccoon coat which he can still get after the weekends because it is still in his house.The Stutz Bearcoat of the narrator’s father is ready to be given to him he just go with the deal. And the deal is let Petey allow the narrator to have a date with Polly. Since Petey liked the raccoon coat, he just went with the deal.

Now the narrator had his first date with Polly the next evening. He wanted to find out just how much work he had to do to get her mind up to the standard required. Her reaction after they will leave the restaurant, theater and after she bade goodnight.They again went to another date the next night. When they were already in the restaurant, the narrator open a topic about logic and fallacies. The fallacy of Dicto Simpliciter, Hasty Generalization, Eula Becker, Contradicctory Premisses, Ad Misericordian,Hypothesis Contrary and the Poisoning the Well.Polly didn't not quite understand the fallacies. But the only thing that she got from the test was the Poisoning the Well.Five nights of conversing with Polly but for the narrator, it was worth it. He made a logician out of her and taught her to think. Not knowing, was in a date with him,a serious date, not only for conversing and chatting. In short, the narrator was in love with Polly.But because of what he taught her, she thinks that everything he says is a fallacy. Polly would not go steady with the narrator but instead with Petey Bellows. All the reason is that Petey has a raccoon

…My Dear English Teacher…

Dear Sir Elmer,

Hi, sir! What’s up?! I just would like to thank you for all the things you have given me as one of your students. I really admire you a lot, sir. You are so jamming! I love the way you mingle with your students in or out of the classrooms. You are so thoughtful and kind.

I’m sorry sir if sometimes I get very low scores in your tests. I’m really very sorry sir. I’m really not that good in English. I hope you understand. I may not be that good in your subject but probably I could focus on to it more the next time, I’ll really try it sir just to prove to you something. I know sir that you really love your students despite of the faults they did to you and I hope I’m one of those students whom you love more than others. I know that you don’t really know me because we are not that close but I just would like to emphasize that even though we are not that close, rather than being your student, I always hope that I could become one of your friends not through friendster, because I don’t really have that something for I don’t have time for that now, but through reality. I know this is quite impossible because I’m afraid to have a close relationship with you for I’m bothered of what might people say unto me. They might probably say I’m “sipsip” and I don’t want to be called like that because I’m a very sensitive person.

I really hope sir that you could really understand me. I maybe some kind of a “mysterious” girl whom you really don’t know much but I’m just sharing to you what I really feel inside. This might sound funny but I just don’t care to whatever your reactions would be. What’s important is, I have already shared you some of my thoughts. I have here a song that could probably be my remembrance for you and I hope that this song could make you smile all day long. This song sir was sung by the Carpenters. Hope you would love it, sir. Please sing.

CAN’T SMILE WITHOUT YOU

You know I can’t smile without you

I can’t smile without you

I can’t laugh and I can’t walk

I’m finding it hard even to talk

And I feel sad when you’re sad

I fell glad when you’re glad

You must know what I’m going through

I just can’t smile without you

You came along just like a song

You brightened my day

Who’d believe that you were part of the dream

That only seemed light years away

You know I can’t smile without you

I can’t smile without you

And you must know what I’m going through

I just can’t smile without you……

Thank you very much sir for your kind consideration! Thank you also for you made our blog entries lesser than before! THANK YOU SIR! I Love You! Mwaaaahhuggzzzz……!!!! Weeeeeehhhh!!!!

Your loving student,

Hazel Mary

"…Wow! Amazing!...

Wow! Have you noticed what our century is happening right now? It’s really cool, right? We already have a lot of modern technologies around! Want to know some of them? Sure! Why, not?! Here it goes.
Medical technology allows doctors to treat diseases and to perform complicated surgery under safer conditions. Imaging techniques produce a clear, electronic picture of the inside of the body so that doctors can pinpoint problems. Endoscopy enables doctors to look directly to a viewing tube inside the body to see what is wrong.
Together, imaging and endoscopy mean doctors can perform minimally invasive, or ‘keyhole’, surgery, entering the body, through the smallest of incisions (cuts). This minimizes tissue damage and makes recovery time for the patient shorter. The use of lasers, such as the laser scalpel, to cut through tissue, remove growths and seal blood vessels is much more effective than standard surgical methods.
Computers are now a major part of medicine. They are used in scanning to generate and store images and to transmit them elsewhere. Virtual-reality systems are used to train doctors in surgical techniques without having to touch a patient.
Doctors use endoscopes to look inside the body to diagnose or treat diseases. Modern endoscopes are narrow and flexible and are inserted either through body openings into the digestive, respiratory, urinary, or reproductive systems, or through incisions in the skin into body cavities. Endoscopes use long, thin optical fibers to illuminate and transfer the images to a video monitor, which the doctor looks at while he or she conducts the examination. The endoscope may also have, for example, tiny forceps to carry out a biopsy (the taking of a tissue sample) for diagnosis.
Imaging techniques enable doctors to look inside the body to make diagnoses and plan treatment without having to cut open the body. One example of it is the X-rays. This was the only useful imaging method until the 1970s. Since then a new generation of techniques has been developed. Although they work in different ways, all scan a particular body region piece by piece and use a computer to make two- or three-dimensional images.
Ultrasound is the most common of the imaging techniques. It uses inaudible, high-frequency sound waves that are reflected from body parts. It is a safe method for observing unborn babies and viewing moving parts, such as blood flow through the heart.
CT scanning uses X-rays. PET – positron-emission tomography – scans use radioactive substances that, when they are injected to the body, give off radiation and reveal the parts of the human body where cells are active.
Today, many diseased or damaged body parts can be replaced. The earliest replacement parts were prostheses such as wooden legs. Modern prostheses, such as plastic arms with moving fingers, are more lifelike. Internal replacement parts are a relatively recent development.
Transplantation takes a living organ from a donor and inserts it into the patient. Kidney transplants, for example, are made to treat people with kidney failure. The body’s immune system regards transplanted organs as ‘foreign’ and attempts to reject them. The transplant patient has to take drugs that prevent rejection by reducing the effectiveness of the immune system.
Implants are artificial internal devices that are not rejected by the immune system. They include artificial joints that can replace diseased joints and electronic pacemakers that regulate heart rate.
So, how was your reading? Don’t you realize something? Aren’t you amazed? Well.. well… well…

…Hmmm… YUMMY!...

Do you love eating? Why wont you?! (ha…ha…ha…) But do you eat the healthy ones? Or, you just simply eat without knowing their nutrition facts? Well, that’s what we Filipinos are, right? Oooppsss…..! I guess only a few of us. Sorry… Food provides the body with vital substances called nutrients. Good nutrition means that the body has an adequate, balanced supply of nutrients. The process by which the humans obtain a regular supply of food to survive is called nutrition. Most foods contain a variety of nutrients, which are released during digestion. Macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins and fats – are needed in large amounts each day. Carbohydrates provide energy. They include complex starches found in potatoes and pasta and simple sugars in fruits and sweets. Proteins provide simple building blocks called amino acids for growth and repair. Ftas provide energy and help insulate the body. Micronutrients – vitamins and minerals- are only needed in tiny amounts daily but are essential for cells to function. They include vitamins such as vitamins A and C, and minerals such as calcium. Also essential are water to maintain the body’s fluid balance, and fibre, undigested plant material that keeps the intestinal muscles working properly. The word “diet” refers to the type and amount of food a person eats each day. To maintain good health and avoid weight gain, a person’s diet should be balanced, containing a range of nutrients in the right amounts. A balanced diet consists of about 55 percent carbohydrates (mostly complex starches), about 15 percent protein and 30 percent or less fat (unsaturated fats from plant oils and oily fish are healthier than saturated fats from meat or dairy products). It should also include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. THE FOOD PYRAMID The food pyramid provides an easy way to plan a balanced diet. The bulk of a balanced diet should be made up of starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods, along with smaller amounts of proteins and fats (preferably not animal fats). It should also provide plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. The food pyramid provides a simple way of getting the balance right by showing the proportions in which the main types of foods should be eaten. Starchy foods, such as rice and bread, and vitamin-, mineral, and fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables and fruits, are found towards the base of the pyramid. Those that should be eaten sparingly or not at all, such as sugary cakes and sweets, are located at the narrow top of the food pyramid. In addition, a person who regularly eats fast food is not likely to be receiving a balanced diet. Just for example a…Hmmm… YUMMY!... Do you love eating? Why wont you?! (ha…ha…ha…) But do you eat the healthy ones? Or, you just simply eat without knowing their nutrition facts? Well, that’s what we Filipinos are, right? Oooppsss…..! I guess only a few of us. Sorry… Food provides the body with vital substances called nutrients. Good nutrition means that the body has an adequate, balanced supply of nutrients. The process by which the humans obtain a regular supply of food to survive is called nutrition. Most foods contain a variety of nutrients, which are released during digestion. Macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins and fats – are needed in large amounts each day. Carbohydrates provide energy. They include complex starches found in potatoes and pasta and simple sugars in fruits and sweets. Proteins provide simple building blocks called amino acids for growth and repair. Ftas provide energy and help insulate the body. Micronutrients – vitamins and minerals- are only needed in tiny amounts daily but are essential for cells to function. They include vitamins such as vitamins A and C, and minerals such as calcium. Also essential are water to maintain the body’s fluid balance, and fibre, undigested plant material that keeps the intestinal muscles working properly. The word “diet” refers to the type and amount of food a person eats each day. To maintain good health and avoid weight gain, a person’s diet should be balanced, containing a range of nutrients in the right amounts. A balanced diet consists of about 55 percent carbohydrates (mostly complex starches), about 15 percent protein and 30 percent or less fat (unsaturated fats from plant oils and oily fish are healthier than saturated fats from meat or dairy products). It should also include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. THE FOOD PYRAMID The food pyramid provides an easy way to plan a balanced diet. The bulk of a balanced diet should be made up of starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods, along with smaller amounts of proteins and fats (preferably not animal fats). It should also provide plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. The food pyramid provides a simple way of getting the balance right by showing the proportions in which the main types of foods should be eaten. Starchy foods, such as rice and bread, and vitamin-, mineral, and fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables and fruits, are found towards the base of the pyramid. Those that should be eaten sparingly or not at all, such as sugary cakes and sweets, are located at the narrow top of the food pyramid. In addition, a person who regularly eats fast food is not likely to be receiving a balanced diet. Just for example a regular burger and a fries, although the meal contains some carbohydrate in the bun and french fries, it is also very rich in protein and animal fats. It contains no fruit or fresh vegetables to provide vitamins or minerals. Yeah, it is pretty good to eat a lot. But we must also think of our nutrition. As what always people say, “Health is Wealth”. Yes it’s true. If you want to be considered a healthy person, you must follow a balanced diet. So, what are you waiting for, start it now! regular burger and a fries, although the meal contains some carbohydrate in the bun and french fries, it is also very rich in protein and animal fats. It contains no fruit or fresh vegetables to provide vitamins or minerals. Yeah, it is pretty good to eat a lot. But we must also think of our nutrition. As what always people say, “Health is Wealth”. Yes it’s true. If you want to be considered a healthy person, you must follow a balanced diet. So, what are you waiting for, start it now!

...'Wish you were here' - Pink Floyd...

A glass half full is a glass half empty. Ironic as it is, everything in this world exists with its converse apparently giving us, humans, to form our own unique perspectives of the same, few things of this small world.

This however leads to the intricate aspects of circumstances at times, as some things or even some people may not be understood as they ‘should have been.’ Adding controversy to confusion, there is no definite way to perceive anything that one may follow. It is interesting to know, therefore, that we mostly depend on our experience to make sense out of almost everything.

Hence to err is human and err, we shall.

Pink Floyd is one of the bands that interest me. Their song ‘Wish you were here’ brings to light the same duality that characterises everything that can be named. The song is straightforward lyrically and yet challenges its very own claims making it deceivingly complicated. Roger Waters asks a couple of questions that mock the world over its conviction about right and wrong when there is hardly anything at all that is as clear as black and white.

“Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?”

The beauty of poetry, as illustrated, makes the obvious and the banal, worth more than just a glance. Similarly, it is far from being uncommon, that every second person carries a private world within him or herself, unknown to the world outside. Just like the ‘smile that may veil’ whatever the heart feels, it is more of a trick question asked by the vocalist demanding his audience to differentiate between the two. Nevertheless, it is clear that the singer himself knows that it isn’t possible to answer his own question.

Conclusively, the song reminds us to rethink our points of view, especially when we think we know.

Despite putting the listeners in a dilemma of doubt, making them uncertain about their own assumptions, the singer expresses contrary opinion towards the end. Rather than being insecure, the song illustrates to reject the baffled judgment of one’s mind and revert to a simpler, satisfying attitude towards life. Referring to the words of Roger himself:

“Running over the same old ground, what have you found? The same old fears . . .”

According to him, we ‘waste’ the precious time of our lives confirming our suspicions and in general search for truth. A life spent like this is ‘wasted’ as we end up where we started or maybe even worse - more apprehensive than before. Therefore, the singer thinks it better to concentrate on other, rather abstract aspects of life like love. In other words, alleviating the status of loving and being loved, something that is more remarkable in spite of being simpler and fulfilling. So ending his song with the mushy desire, “wish you here” Pink Floyd make their point.

By Kheyal Azam Khalil

Planetpapers.com

Yahoo.com

…Young One, into a Woman…

Have you ever tried asking yourself on where were you from? How were you made? Or, what’s your purpose of living in this beautiful world?

Every baby begins life when a single egg cell from the mother and a tiny sperm cell from a father joined together inside the mother’s body. This is called fertilization. The fertilized egg grows and divides, and after nine months the baby is born. That’s where I started.

Have you imagine all the sacrifices our mothers did just to keep us alive? Honestly, I just really can’t imagine all the pains and sacrifices they suffered. In fact, I just can’t believe that I am now living here in this world experiencing all the happiness, loneliness, anger, frustrations, regrets, disappointments and a lot of more. Before, I was just still a single cell found inside the body of my mother called the egg cell. Now, I have turned into a girl involving the period of puberty wherein my ovaries start to release eggs and menstruation begins. My breasts develop and my hips become wider with matching lowering of the voice and development of body hairs under the arms and some other parts. I am also very happy because from a height of four feet and eight inches at the age of twelve, now that I am already fifteen, form four feet and eight inches to more or less five feet. Yehey! (he…he…he…)

Puberty is a part of adolescence, which also involves mental changes. So, aside from those physical changes, what other changes should I undergo? Of course, mental changes! But not because I came from the mental hospital (huh!) (ah…ah…ah…ah…ah…) It’s because I am already a “young” adult then I should be more independent and sensitive to have sexual feelings.

Thank God, there are hormones in our body for they may help in regulating our growth, controlling the formation of antibodies, stimulating mammary glands to secrete milk, hastening release of glucose into blood, increasing rate of heartbeat and blood pressure, maintaining carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, influencing development of secondary sex cells and more! (Whew!) Thank you my dear hormones, you really did a big part in developing myself.

Although I have already turned into what I am now, I’m still hoping that someday I would turn into a better person wherein by this time, instead of me, my parents would be the one who’ll benefit something from me as a reward and a thanksgiving for all the sacrifices they have done for me and for the whole-hearted love they have given me. But of course, how could I do all of this if I could not finish my studies, right? Well…well…well… I will really try “no, not try”, I will really do my best not only in studying but also in working, hopefully.

With all these, I just would like to give thanks to my beloved BIOLOGY teacher for because of her I do now understand much better to where did I really come from and rather than that, she also helped me in answering some of my confusions in life.

…A Moment In Time…

Can we capture time? Can we stop it from moving on even for just a few seconds? Can we keep a portion of it so that it will not be lost completely? Read and find how bits of time can be kept from fading away.

What do you do to have a remembrance of important events like family reunions, birthdays and awarding ceremonies? You take pictures using a camera, don’t you? Whether the pictures are in black and white or colored, they record the events exactly as they happened.

We have Joseph M. Niepce and his companions to thank for this. Joseph and his companions wanted to make some drawings but they found it difficult to finish them. The people, events and objects they wanted to draw were moving. It was difficult to get details about them so Joseph and his friends searched and searched for a way of producing exact pictures of what was taking place. This they found in photography.

Photography means making an exact picture of a person, object, scene or event with the use of light. Photography was first used by painters and sculptors. With photographs, it was no longer necessary to make their subjects sit still or pose for long hours.

The more popular use of photography is to take pictures of memorable events. These pictures are kept for us to recall the happy or sad things happened in our lives. This way, time will not erase from our memory a memorable event.

Another common use of photography is for entertainment. In fact, movie industries make the most use of photography. With the different types of picture productions like colored films, three-dimensional and cartoon films, movies are now more entertaining than ever before. It is more fun to watch movies now than it was five years ago.

As years passed, more uses for cameras or photography were found. Medicine today uses machines like X-ray, cardiogram and ultrasound. These take photographs of body organs to find out if they are healthy or damaged. They help the physician determine whether something is wrong with the body organs of the body. They show the damaged or diseased portion.

Weathermen or meteorologists make use of photographs to forecast the weather. They use a special camera to shoot a “baby” typhoon. They use the pictures it takes to predict a coming typhoon and trace its path.

Space and sea explorers use cameras, too. Whether the spaceship is manned or not, the camera attached to it can take pictures of what is in space and beam these to earth for scientists to study. Special waterproof cameras can also be bought deep down in the same to take pictures of the undersea kingdom.

Big department stores and banks have hidden cameras all around the place. They show what is happening in the store or bank. These cameras are placed there to protect business establishments from holduppers and shoplifters.

Reporters and newspapermen use photography to make their news releases seem real with the exact picture to go with the news. Also, with the picture, they know every detail of the event.

Photography therefore means different things to different people. But to most of us, it means capturing an important event in our life and holding time still for a moment. This way the memory of the event will be kept alive and recorded for all time.

From: Read, Learn and Grow 5

By: Esperanza J. Chee Kee,

Zenaida G. dela Rosa, and

Isabelita M. Santos

Bookmark, Inc.

Copyright 1994

…A Friendly Pillow…

In enumerating the forces friendly to man, no scientific book that we can recall has mentioned the pillow. Yet in the experience of all, it is one of the most constant and helpful of friends. How many tender hopes and quaint fancies are broached to it; how many passionate or yearning prayers does it hear, too sacred for human ears; how many joyful smiles are molded in the sympathetic surface, and how many tears it can absorb. The conspicuous trait in the personality of the pillow is receptivity. Pudgy and rotund in physique, it is like pudgy and rotund people, eminently endowed with the power to absorb confidences, and digest them without inconvenience.

Hence, its responsiveness to mood, its wondrous adaptability. Come to your pillow in a passion, it will reflect your hot breath and feel satisfactorily you’re clenching fists. Come to it in serenity, its linen will be cool and clean its texture ineffably restful. Come to it in grief; it will encircle and protect you with its warm, solacing folds.

As a confidant, the pillow is strong exactly where human beings are weak. It does not exhaust you with an ill-adjusted mood, or drive you mad with well-meaning irrelevant philosophy. It offers no solution for your problems; it makes no pretense to understanding your heart. It is entirely inert, impassive, and uncommunicative. Moreover, it is wonderfully patient. You pour upon it a torrent of abuse; you plead with it and narrate to it; you dig your elbows into it; in the middle of your violence, you suddenly caress it; or laugh to it; or attempt to stuff it in your mouth, and all the while it makes no retort. It accuses you of no inconsistency; it does not look hurt or injured. How many people do you think would endure such a handling? Let us appreciate the gentle pillow.

The discretion of the pillow equals its gentleness. One need never be afraid to tell a pillow anything. Its reticence is complete. With a human confidant, you constantly distress yourself with scruples; you suppress this detail, or generalize that problem. With a pillow, plump comes the whole story, and the air is cleared.

A pillow is never impatient and it never interrupts. It is an oddly stimulating thought to consider how many great novels and other works of literary or musical art have had for their first audience – pillows. If you outline to your pillow the plot of your new story, it does not point out flaws or nail incongruities. It is patient; it waits for you to see them yourself. If you softly whistle to it the theme of an embryonic sonata, it does not hint plagiarism, or any other way conveys disapproval. On the contrary, it listens so patiently and respectfully, that you must be an unappreciative performer indeed if you are not move to fresh creation. One cannot to highly praise the perfect justice and candor of the pillow. There is nothing about it pretense – unless possibly the sham; and that, thank Heaven, is obsolescent. You always remove the sham, too, before getting at close quarters with the pillow; whereas, in the case of most people, the sham, whatever there is of it, is fixed.

We must not lay so much stress on the passive and receptive qualities of the pillow as to forget its more positive traits. Of these, the most valuable is what we may call its composure, or serenity. It is never ruffled (we are speaking metaphorically), but always pleads deliberation. When, after a long and baffling day spent fighting with intangible enemies or getting rubbed the wrong way by the thousand insignificant frictions that insult philosophy, you at length lay your weary head upon your pillow, what large and detached views that do it not gradually suggest. It calms your boiling brain with a purely animal quiet; it answers your fretful bewilderments with an impersonal imperturbability. Without speech or sign, it answerably asserts the wisdom of patience, of postponement. It reminds you the medicinal quality of time, of the drowsy syrups of the world. Like a hand on the brow, it tranquilizes you, not mentally, but elementally. What man has not held with his pillow some such conversation like this:-

Man: I am at the end of my rope. I can stand this no longer;

What am I to do?

Pillow: How soft I am.

Man: Yes, you are deliciously soft – but what has that to do with my problems? I think I’ll get up and dress, and go – but I might wait till tomorrow.

Pillow: Wait a while. Don’t your legs feel heavy?

Man: Luxuriously heavy, and my eyelids, too. Let’s see, what was I thinking about? – What a jolly old boy you are!

Pillow: Jolly old boy you are. Jolly old boy you are. (Aside) He’s leaning harder now; he’ll be asleep in no time.

Thus, practically does the pillow pursue its friendly services? Of course it would be grotesque to claim too much for its devotion. Doubtless there are times when even its white surface looks uninviting, when its impersonality repels rather than attracts us, and when we prefer an ill-adjusted, indiscreet, impatient, interrupting and irrational human being. But that only proves that nothing in this world can be everything. The pillow is not a microcosm, but it is a pillow, - let us not undervalue or fail to be duly thankful for its ministrations.

From: A Note on the Essay

By Jose Ma. Hernandez

Mimeographed Prepublication

Copy, 1949.

...Best Supporting Actress…

“And the Best Supporting Actress is……. Ms. Hazel Mary Pastelero!”

One of the major activities wherein second years are involved is the role playing for “Florante at Laura”. Some students are assigned to play a role that may fit to them and unluckily, I was assigned to a masculine role. It started this way. Before I was assigned to that role, it was Essem whom they have chosen first because the role really fits for him but then he declined because he said that he has so much to memorize on and he’s afraid that he may not perform all his roles properly onstage. That’s why they have to choose again another one who may or may not fit for that role just as long as he/ she can act it properly. They offered me that role because they said my voice is some kind of a masculine (Owwwwzzzz…!).

At first, I was a little bit confused but after so many hours, I accepted the offer. My role was really very cool! I love it! You know what; some of my friends were really very shocked with my masculine role! They just can’t believe it! “He….he….he…”

I don’t know why I felt so happy after we practiced several times. Maybe I’m just excited for the result of our play. Thank God! My lines are just very short! (weeeeeeehhhh!!!!!) By the way, I forgot to tell you something…... my role was “Haring Linceo”, the father of Laura. Please don’t forget that! Thank you!

March 8, 2007…… Oh my gosh! So intense!(kabog...! kabog..! kabog..!)…. (waaaahh!) Help! My heart is beating very, very fast! I am really very nervous. My hands and feet are shaking so wild! Yeah! I almost forgot. I have to manage the music committee first so that they can be synchronized. Aside from being an actress, I am also the head of the music committee that’s why part of my job was to control/manage them.

The first part, the introduction and a few scenes were good but when it reached to the middle part, (nah!) I just can’t explain. Although the play has a lot of damage, I’m just glad that at least we have shown something for the other students. Honestly, I was not satisfied with our presentation. There were times that the lights are turned-on even though it was not yet the time, there were a lot of dead air. In fact, I really felt very bed when my committee was not given the chance to show there talent. Before the show started, we, the music committee planned to have a entrance and exit song but then it was ruined.

Now, going back to why I got the award of “BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS”. Maybe others are also wondering why I got this award. To give you a hint, these were my winning lines during the play.

“Oh,duke!.......Ang kiyas na ito ang siyang kamukha ng bumying guerero! Aking napangarap na sabi sa iyo, magiging hsligi ka ng sentro ko’t reyno. Sino ba ito at saan nanggaling na siyudad?”

“Mabuting panahjon itong pagdalo mo. Ikaw ang magiging pinuno ng hukbong dadalo sa baying krotonang kinubkob ng Moro!

These were just a few of my lines. This award is really unexpected. I never expected to win but I did! I just would like to thank those people who really supported and believed in my abilities. Thank you very much!!!!(mwaahhh!!!)…..

…Sleeping and Dreaming…

“Is it a nightmare or a sweet dream?” Wondering why you encounter dreams while sleeping? Can you remember what your dreams were? While sleeping, do you feel that your dream was happening in reality? How many hours do you take a sleep daily? Well, here are some facts that I could share to you which I’ve learned from my friend who is a Psychology student.

Sleep occurs naturally as part of a 24-hour cycle of wakefulness and sleep. It is a state of altered consciousness from which a person can be easily aroused. Sleep is important – people deprived of sleep become tired, confused and experience hallucinations.

Evidence for events that occur during sleep comes from scientists who observe the behavior of sleeping subjects and use an electroencephalograph (EEG) to measure their brainwaves.

Whether we are awake or sleeping, brainwaves are produced constantly by the electrical ‘traffic’ that passes between the billions of neurons in the brain. Different brainwaves occur according to whether someone is awake, mentally alert, falling asleep or in deep sleep. Dreams are the events someone experiences during sleep. They are probably a side effect of the brain putting in order the experiences of the previous day, and storing them in the memory.

Sleep follows a pattern of events that occur in a certain order and repeat themselves. When people fall asleep, they experience four stages of sleep from nearly awake to deep, or NREM (nonrapid-eye-movement), sleep. The heart and breathing rates decrease and the brain activity slows. After 90 minutes, they go from deep sleep to light, or REM (rapid-eye-movement), sleep. The eyes move under the eyelids and dreaming takes place. Breathing and heart rates increase, and brain activity increases. The body does not move, and the muscles are paralyzed, probably to stop the sleeper from acting out his/her dreams. After five to ten minutes, a sleeper will return to deep sleep.

During the night, this pattern is repeated up to five times, with REM sleep beginning about every 90 minutes. Deep sleep decreases during the night, and periods of REM sleep become longer, the final one lasting up to 50 minutes.

Now, have you realized something? Honestly, I did. In fact I am very lucky for I have a friend who is a Psychology student. Whatever things I am curios about, I just can ask it to her. Excellent! Now I know why I sometimes encounter dreams. I thought the reason why I sometimes encounter dreams is because, “I sometimes forget to pray before going to sleep”.

Can you explain that reason? (ha…ha…ha…) This is what my mother always says, “Pray before you go to sleep. You might have a nightmare later.” Amazing! (He…he…he…) How about you, have you ever wondered why you sometimes experience good or bad dreams? Open up your mind dude! Now you know.

I have already realized that “superstitious” are not always true. Now, I’ll try to explain even the simplest event in a scientific way. I’ll also try to go along the version of the new scientific and high technology. But there’s only one thing that bothers in my mind, Do “dreams” really come true?

…Reflections on Teachers and Teachings…

Being a teacher isn’t that really very easy for like students, they also experience difficulties. To be considered as a good teacher, one must have a sense of commitment and of course, dedication.

The Student Council of the UP HIGH CEBU annually conducts this so-called “KYSD”, Know Your School Day. It is a phenomenon where students are given the chance to serve as teachers for 2-3 days and luckily, I was one of them.

When I was still a first year student, I was given the privilege to teach students for the subject Filipino. And now that I am already a second year student, I was once again given the chance to be a Filipino teacher. The experience was really good. At first, I was really very nervous but then as the flow continued, I started to get over my nervousness.

At the end of the day, I always reflect on things. And one thing that gave me something to ponder on is the value of teaching a naughty class a lesson. Now I realized, to be a teacher you must be responsible, if you don’t want to be embarrassed in front of the class. The night before I took over the class, I was really preparing. I was sorting things out. I organized my stuff. So can you imagine the daily routine of teachers? Teach all day, prepare at night, sleep late and wake up early. It’s hard yet they continue teaching. I asked myself, “Why did they choose the teaching profession?” Being in the office for the whole day is much better than talking in front of the class, where some of these students are not listening? It’s like putting yourself to the edge of the cliff. It’s hard and so frustrating to talk in front while others aren’t paying attention. Sometimes the effort exerted is wasted. This happens when you feel like the student has his or her own world and he/she did not see the beauty of what you’re doing because he/she’s busy thinking about other stuffs. Because of my experience, I learned new things. I have improved already. I learned how to keep my temper “lower” than the usual. You can’t insist, rush and say this and that when all the while; they’re still in the process of understanding. Another thing would be, “I learned how to appreciate simple things.” Even the smallest effort of the students exerted to keep themselves behaved during discussions and to try to interact and participate in the discussion is a big thing already. From these simple things, I found fulfillment and happiness. The happiness it gives me is different from the usual “HAPPINESS”. It’s the one that no matter how tiring it may be for a student teacher like me to teach his/her students or classmates, a smile will always be in his/her heart

That instead of “sighs”, you’ll see yourself “smiling” as you reminisce those moments. No wonder why our teachers chose the teaching profession! They teach not because of money but because it gives them happiness, a sense of commitment. I guess it’s really right to send my “THANK YOU” to all my teachers.

This song is for all of you:

“Thank you, for teaching me how to love

Showing me what the world means

That I’ve been dreaming of and now I know

There is nothing that I could not do

THANKS TO YOU……!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL MY DEAR TEACHERS!!!

...My Dear Mysteriozo...

Please sing:

"What is this I'm feeling? I just can't explain.
When you're near, I'm not just the same.
I've tried to hide it, tried not to show it.
It's crazy.... How coud it be.....

I'm fallin' for you..... Finally, my heart
gave in and I'm fallin' in love......
I've finally know, how it feels, so this
is LOVE.....

Is this really love, or maybe just an admiration? I really can't explain what I truly feel for you. You are so mysterious, and I don't know why you're like that. There's something in you that I'm really urious about. Who really are you? Why are you so significant into my life?
Oh, my dear mysteriozo.... Why are you so silent? Sometimes you are a litte bit "corny" but still your silence overshadows your "cornyness". The way you act is so unpredictable. I don't know how to mingle with you becuse you are such a moody person. There are times that you feel like hanging-out with your friends but there are also times that you just sit down to anyone's chair, deeply thinking onto something or probably to someone. I thought I already know a lot about you but I realized that those facts are just twenty-five percent from the real you.
Yes, I admit. I fell in love with you but it was before again, BEFORE. I kept on pretending to myselfthat I have already lasted my feelings for you just because of my insecurities with the other girls who are linked to you. No doubt, those girls are really presentable and oh, so beautiful! To think, you are a very lucky person. Want to know why? Haven't you noticed that girls are the ones who make moves just to be close to you and yet you just ignore them? Oh........ you are so numb, dude!
I'm just wondering why we don't talk to much. You just talk to me whenever you needed or ask something. I thought we're friends. You know what, even just one glance from you, I am already very happy. I really can't explain what I truly feel for now. I am so confused. It is some kind of a..... "50-50" situation. One side of my heart is telling me that, "I really like you Mr. Mysteriozo!", but the other side is telling me that, "No, stop it! Don't mind your feelings. Forget about him because if you'll continue that, you might get hurt until the end."
Can I ask a favor from you? Please? It's just very simple. I just would like you to help me forget about you. I am already very tired. I'm sick of this feeling! I don't want to continue this anymore. For now, I feel like I'm very hopeless. Will you help me?
Until now, I still keep on denying my feelings for you because I'm afraid that if you'll know someday what I truly feel, our friendship wwould be broken. That's why, eventhough it hurts, I have to control this and make it to a point that this feelings of mine should not go beyond admiration.

…What a UP student is NOT…

University of the Philippines – Cebu is a school where highly educated students are studying. Every time people hear the name “UP”, they always put into their minds that students there are very intelligent and what so ever. By this time, let’s try to describe/ define an UPian (UP student) in the opposite way.

Students studying at UP HIGH CEBU are NOT intelligent. They do NOT like studying. They are very lazy. They prefer playing rather than focusing on to their studies. They do NOT even like to make their projects. During seat works, or long tests, they just do NOT mind of what they’re going to answer to those questions. They just simply answer, and that’s it!

In terms of physical outlooks, well… what else can I say, they have really very fair complexion, very clear face with no pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, nor eye bags at all. Most of them are very tall because they may take beauty rests as early as 7:00 p.m.

UPians’ schedule is very free. They have a lot of free time to do whatever they want to. In addition, they have no rules that must be strictly followed. They are free to do anything. If they want to bring cellphones, then they may do so. If they love to eat during classes, then who cares? Remember, whatever things they want to do are not controlled by others and they have no right to avoid them from doing those things.

Their subjects are just very simple. Their lessons are just the same as what elementary students have. They are just very, very easy. So, why should they have to study much, right? (duh!?)

Some UPians are rude. Some are irresponsible. Some are dishonest. Others are not industrious. Almost all don’t know how to mingle with others. They don’t know how to make funny jokes. They are not friendly that’s why others don’t have some friends. They are not talented. They do not know how to sing properly and even just playing simple instruments, (nah!) they don’t even know it. I don’t know why they are like that. Maybe they just feel what they are doing, or probably, they have their own reasons why they act like that. We just don’t know.

(Whew!) So intense! It’s really very hard to describe/ define an UPian in the opposite way. Oh my gosh! My conscience is breaking me into pieces! (Waaaaaah!!!!!) I am really worried about what your reactions would be. Please don’t mind all of these. I just would like to make these all clear that all what I have said are just the opposite meanings of a true UPian is. Please don’t be bothered with the negative values or what so ever. I don’t have any intentions to hurt or offend someone’s feelings. If ever I offended you, please accept my apology. I really don’t mean to hurt you. Just for the sake of making an entry for this blog. Please forgive me and I’m also hoping for your kind consideration.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

…How Hard Can LIFE be? ...

“How hard can it be?” This was a famous line that a man considered as one of the hero’s today had said. It’s none other than Romy Garduce that had made us raise our heads up high full of pride and confidence for he proved to the whole world that we, Filipinos can also make it as well as others. As he fought the battle through heights and cold, his battle became ours as we held our breaths, each time we simply hear news or seeing him being broadcasted fighting the difficulties of what has been called “the killer mountain” which is the Mt. Everest. For it had been renowned as a terrifying and frightening mountain base on several lives it has ended. And as Romy had gained his victory, his victory also became ours as he reached the top and raised our flag. With the question “how hard can it be?” he challenges obstacles that he might encounter in achieving his ambitious goal before he had climbed the mountain. Don’t you think that this question also is referring to life? So that’s “how hard can life be?”

Now who says life is just fair and easy? Of course no one had thought of it that way! We always complain that it’s unfair and complex, right? We have known life to be full of things that makes us easily give up. These things are problems, struggles, conflicts and challenges. That’s just a few of life’s discouragements. But despite the fact that these discouragements cause us depressions and often pull us down to the ground feeling very hopeless, we also have to bear in mind that they mold and shape us up towards becoming a better and sensible individual. If we’ll face them we only become wiser and wiser each time we deal with problems in our lives that comes unpredictably. For a problem does not choose whom to come and when to occur. So it does make sense when I say “the bigger the challenges, the stronger and tougher we become”. Now you might just be stuck on a critical situation and might want to give up. Remember not to fret and not to be scared knowing that after the rain, there will always be a rainbow after it. After you’ll overcome it, the more emotionally stabilized you become.

Let us take for example the ever expensive and precious gold. We are well aware that before it had become a precious and expensive piece, it has first been extracted from other elements. Then it undergoes a lot of processes to become fine and pure. But then, after passing thru several processes, the unrefined substance has turned into a sophisticatedly expensive and precious one. The same thing happens to us, when we encounter a problem that shook and threatens our whole being, we should always look on the brighter side of it. We should face our problems, for facing it, will serve as a method which polishes and assembles our potentials in becoming the best person we can be.

…My pAst wRiTinGs…

It’s funny when you recall yourself having a hard time constructing a lot of sentences just to form a paragraph or a selection. Knowing that you have no enough knowledge on such deeper words yet, but still you just try. Have you ever tried reading your essays, paragraphs or “formal themes” from your elementary years again? Why don’t you try reading them again? Let us see what your reactions would be after reading them (he… he…). Let me share you some of my “formal themes” before during my elementary stage.

YOUNG CITIZEN IN ACTION

As a grade four pupil, how can I improve myself to be a good citizen? What can I do to my country? Do I belong to this group? What are the things I should have to do for our country? Can I do all these?

As a grade four and a girl scout pupil, I can do many things like throwing the garbage properly. I can also help in sweeping the ground. In planting trees and ornamental plants can also be some ways of maintaining the surroundings clean and beautiful. Recycle the things that can be used again. Take good care of the plants. Arrange the things that are not properly arranged. I will also be a diligent pupil. I can read some books so that I could learn more. I will participate in some activities. I should have good attitudes. I can be a helpful citizen. I must be honest. And most especially, I should be respectful to everyone.

“bEtter dO wHat yOu sAiD!!!”(a_a)

MY SEATMATE

His name is Aiden Bruce Tallo. He is 9 years old. His birthday is on October 29, 1992. He lives at 2^nd St., Happy Valley Banawa. His mother’s name is Ruth Tallo. His father’s name is Lowell Tallo. His younger sister’s name is Charisse Tallo and his older sister’s name is Gayle Loraine Tallo. His favorite color is blue. His favorite classmate is Essem. His best friend is Josiah. His favorite actor is Carlos Agassi. His favorite fruit is mango. His favorite number is 9. He loves to eat chicken. He also loves to watch the movie Spiderman and his favorite pet is a dog.

“HA! ha! hA! WHat a pAraGraPh!!!”(@_@)

THE PERSON I DISLIKE MOST

There are so many people that I really dislike. Some are in our house. Some are in the school and some are in other places or provinces like Leyte, Bohol, Talamban and Dulho Fatima. I dislike a person especially if he or she has very bad attitudes.

The person that I dislike most is Ricon. He lives near our house. I dislike him because of his attitudes. He always teases me like telling me that I am ugly. I don’t like him also because he doesn’t like to go to school. I think if he would study hard, maybe he is now in the high school level but until now he is still in the elementary level. Can you imagine? He is already 13 years old but still he’s just a grade four pupil. I don’t like his attitudes of being irresponsible, dishonest, not respectful and not religious.

“Ah… Ah… Ah… He’s not the person I dislike most anymore!! That person is _______. (tooOoot) Secret! Ha-ha-ha!

Try to scan again some of your works from the past. For sure, you’ll going to laugh at your works that if, you find them very funny.

...Stupid Love...

Love begins with friendship. Yes, I do believe in that, but, what if you fall in love with your friend? Is it possible? What if your friend doesn’t feel the love the same as yours? What would you feel? Are you ready to get hurt and are you willing to move on even though you knew to yourself that you really love him?

The first time we met was when we were just still grade five pupils. He had his Christmas vacation here in Cebu. He’s from Masbate. His family said that he should finish his elementary years there and start another level here in Cebu.

We were really very good friends before. I was the one who started making friends with him because he was really very shy. From that day on, our friendship started. We really had very happy and funny days together! We played “patintero” with our other friends and enjoyed playing some sports like basketball and badminton. We also played cards inside his room together with his cousins. We didn’t only have happy and funny moments but of course, sweet moments. Yes! You heard it right! We had sweet moments with no malice yet. As days passed, I already started having special feelings for him.

Everyday, I wake-up as early as 6:00 in the morning just to visit him in his room. Would you believe that! Am I that very willing? Well….. I think so….. “Hehehehe”.

Christmas and New Year days have passed. Sadly, the time has come. The time for him to go back home to Masbate. I really felt very sad. In fact, I almost cried when he said that he’s already living that day but then, I hindered my tears from falling.

A few months after, my friend told me something about him. She told me that he revealed his special feelings for me. I didn’t show any reactions but deep inside, I really felt very, very happy.

Months have passed but still I waited for him. Although I had crushes on other guys but still he’s the only one inside my heart.

“It’s Vacation time! Weeeeh! He’s coming back here in Cebu again! Thank God! Yehey!”

I was really very excited to see him again! I fixed my hair properly and put some powder on my face. I was shocked when I saw him! I can’t believe it! He’s now already very tall and very handsome! He had already changed a lot and one important change in him was his feelings for me. I didn’t know that his feeling for me was already gone because they said another girl came into his life. Want to know who that girl is? She’s none other than, my BEST FRIEND!

With that thought, I was so depressed. I cried for how many nights and regretted all the time wasted waiting for him, all the sacrifices and all the efforts of making poems especially for him. Here’s one of the poems I made when I was already depressed:

All my life,

I’ve been looking for

Someone to be with,

Someone I could open up to,

Someone I could share my innermost

Thoughts and feelings with,

Without feeling awkward about it

I’ve spent so much time

Searching for that one special

Person who’d love me

Both when I’m at my best

Or at my worst

Someone who believes in me

And inspires me to be

Even more than I am

I’ve almost ran out of hope

Of finding that someone

Until I found you

You were much more than what I thought

Your beautiful eyes,

Kissable cheeks, nice nose

And most of all your BEST traits

Inspired me most

But there’s one thing you’ve got

To know that really hurts my feelings

And that is, you’ve found someone

Special whom I guess you’ll love forever…..

Now, I have already moved on. I have to accept the truth. I know it’s not going to be that easy, but I guess, I have to do this. By the way, my best friend and he didn’t have a chance to be together because she loves me so much. She didn’t sacrifice the friendship we had with that stupid love and I thank her for that. By now, he already has his own love life with again another woman who is a year older than him and fortunately, they’re still together for more than 6 months already. Furthermore, I’m glad to say that until now, we are still very close friends.

…cOsTumEs…

What a very exhausting day! I am really very tired. In fact, I feel dizzy right now but I just kept my eyes open so that I couldn’t sleep. You know what, I had a wonderful day today. Although it was exhausting but still it was full of fun and excitement! Mother and I watched the Sinulog parade from 7:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. Would you believe it? We stayed that long just for the parade! While waiting, I saw a lot of sexy, beautiful and gorgeous American women who were having fun on the road. Not only that! I also saw very cute Koreans who were roaming around and at the same time taking pictures with the Sinulog dancers of different contingents. I really like the way they dress. They’re very cool and fashionable!

After an hour waiting, the show has finally started. I am so excited to witness the much awaited Sinulog Mardigras! The first group I saw was the Sandiego Dance Troupe. Even at first glance you could really say that their performance is great. Looking at their costumes, I was really amazed! The ladies’ costumes made them look like princesses and queens of the road while the gentlemen’s’ costumes made them look like the armors of the ladies! I didn’t even mind to criticize contingents’ performances anymore for I am really destructed by their unique and colorful costumes which add beauty to their performances. Instead of criticizing their performances, I only criticized the uniqueness of their costumes. That’s why I was able to recognize the differences and similarities of them. One thing I observed, some costumes were influenced by different traditions such as Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and American. Among those, I appreciated most the Spanish and American influences. Remember those fairytale movies like, “Cinderella”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, and the “Little Mermaid”? Have you noticed their big, bulky and fluffy dresses? That’s what I mean. Some costumes were designed to look like the same as the princesses’ dresses. But of course, Philippine traditions are always present in the show, right? One example of which is the “Tribu Basakanon”, who was the champion for the Free Interpretation category. Their costumes were probably influenced from the ethnic groups of the Philippines. Maybe they used dried coconut leaves or other indigenous materials to make them look native. Actually, I’m not sure if I was able to watch this contingent because I wasn’t focusing to their names but as what I have said before, I was only focusing unto their costumes. Another contingent with unique costumes was the “Tribu Sinanduloy” who was the champion for the Sinulog Base category. Their costumes were simple yet very elegant! Philippine style dresses with the combined colors of green and brown plus some sequences or others that would make them look bright. Aside from those contingents, there were also others who used some influences from the Philippine traditions but I just can’t remember all of those for their names are quite complicated.

Additional information, I heard from the news that those who were declared winners will be given a chance to perform again tomorrow, Monday, January 22, 2007 at 2:00 pm in the Abellana Sports Complex....

“Good Luck Guys and God Bless!”