Being An ICT Student

          There are only 22 days to enjoy our last stay in the Ilocos Sur National High School before we check out. I would leave the awesome world of being one of the MAXCONI studentsc2011-2012. I’m not yet ready to move on and leave the people who have been part of my high school life.

          Being one of the ICT students of this school, I am very happy for Mrs. Evelyn Vera Cruz open the door of Adobe Photoshop. Thank You Ma’am because you gave us the opportunity to show our hidden talents especially in digital arts that even were “insane” we can make the best out of what we should do. It’s a challenge for all of us to make anything out of Adobe Photoshop and we’re very happy because even if we are not good in this profession we still do our best to make.

          To all our teachers, thank you very much for being a second father and mother to all of us 70 insane people in the amazing world of MAXCONI.

A Doctor at the same time a Photographer

 It’s high time to think seriously about my future .In my opinion; it’s still very hard to say exactly what profession to choose. We may debate a lot about social importance and prestige of our future profession, but I think it must be close to our soul. It’s really very important to take a right decision because sometimes people make great mistakes in choosing a profession; to my mind they’re afraid to look silly in eyes of others, or to disappoint their parents. That is why; many people have to suffer, refusing of their dream. I suppose, the main thing is to decide correctly what you want to do in future or how you want your future to be, and don’t pay attention to what other people say. I consider our life is in our hands and we must try our best to achieve all our goals. The only thing I know exact what you want to do must go from your heart your profession depends on you; otherwise your job will bring you no satisfaction.

 If you want to know my opinion, I've already decided whom I want to be and hardly someone could influence me or hardly I’ll change my mind. I have been thinking about my future profession for ten years, and nobody hindered me in taking a decision. I’m lucky my parents try to understand and to help me, I’m glad they have the same opinion. I’d say I’m rather creative person; I’m captivated by art especially photography. They are my hobbies.

To become a photojournalist is very attractive for me. If I were a photojournalist, I would work in famous newspapers, magazines or maybe, even on television. I think journalism is one of the most exciting profession, and I suppose, it’s very interesting to communicate with different people from all parts of the world, and to know new information. Journalism also gives opportunity to denounce your thoughts to others. To my mind, journalist must be honest and sincere in attitude to people around. But I must work hard if I want to be a journalist, because it’s not easy as may seem at first. But photography is only my hobby. Yet I want to become a photographer someday. And at the same time I want also to become a doctor.

 Anyway whoever I’ll become I hope I’ll find a profession in which I could show my personality, but I also will never forget one proverb:”NO GAIN WITHOT PAIN”.

                                                                            

Kannawidan: The Ylocos Festival

          It was a fun-filled week celebration of the Kannawidan Festival in Ilocos Sur. The province of Ilocos Sur has recently celebrated its Kannawidan Ylocos Festival. This year marks the province’s 193rd year based on the Royal Decree dated February 2, 1818 separating Ilocos Sur from Ilocos Norte. Prior to this date, the stretch of Bangui in Ilocos Norte down to Luna La Union is called Ylocos which is a term to refer to the coastal inhabitants. It literally meant “from the lowlands”. 

          Gov. Luis Singson called on residents, balikbayans and tourists to visit Vigan to witness the week-long 5th Kannawidan Ylocos Festival (Ilocos Heritage Festival) which began Sunday. The festival is set in downtown Vigan, at the Plaza Salcedo, where sights and activities are up for all visitors and residents.The attractions include the display and sale of handicrafts made from indigenous materials produced in the province, exhibition of traditional rituals of members of indigenous communities, fashion shows featuring the abel – iloko (Ilocano woven clothing) and awarding of the best practices in schools.

          Native dances of the upland towns of Ilocos Sur have also been shown at Plaza Salcedo.At the same time, all One Top One Product (OTOP) from the different towns are being sold at the trade fair.Old clothing and vehicles, various native arts designs and other native products and some ancestral houses at the heritage village are also being showcased.

          Festival were focused on the presentations and exhibitions of the attractive indigenous and old traditions, cultures and costumes of the Ilocanos. These include the “Tawid Ug-ugali ti Ilocano” (Ilocano Heritage Tradition) presentation of the various cultural dances and rituals, attractive folk dances and native but elegant products from upland towns.

          

Reflection

          There are two more months to enjoy our last stay in the Ilocos Sur National High School before we check out. I would leave the awesome world of being a MAXWELL student. I’m not yet ready to move on and leave the people who have been part of my high school life.

          Many problems and challenges came across my way and it became a wall that I can’t climb on the top of it. It means that I didn’t face the challenges that came across my way but all I did was to cry to express all of my heartfelt. Whenever there is a problem I always cry. And they said “Don’t cry, be strong anything in this world came for a purpose.” From now on I will face the challenges confidently thinking that “If I can’t, who can!” And after winning I will be humble enough to say that “If I can, who can’t.”

          Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.

The Start of a New Beginning

          I must admit, you were not a part of my book. But if you open it up and take a look, you’re the beginning and end of every chapter.

          Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. 2011 has passed and another year is waiting for us for a new beginning and a new ending. It’s a brand new year, a new year of change and renewal. Let us now rid of our old habits and make new moments for the year 2012. For this past year, many problems and challenges came into my way. All I did was to cry. When I’m crying I am over whelmed. My feeling is that I’m free all my problems has gone with that one click. But sometimes I’m just pretending I’m alright but the truth is I am hurting inside. Sometimes all I can do was to laugh to keep myself from crying.

          I hope this year is now a wonderful year not like last year with so many problems and challenges that I cannot solve. It’s now the start of my new life. 

Keeping in Mind our Mother Tongue

          Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation. Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

          We all have our own languages. We, the Ilocano as we are being called have our language called Iloco. IN everyday life we use our dialect to communicate with the people that we meet. We are also using the language, English and Tagalog. Especially English because it is the universal language. We must know how to speak English so that we can also communicate with the people around the world. Many Ilocano people are using the second and the third language, Tagalog and English. Not their own Mother Tongue. Nowadays, most of the teenagers are hard to read and write Ilocano words. Let us not forget our Mother tongue.

          Let us always bear in mind that we are ILOCANOS... We must use our own dialect which is the ILOCO... We must be proud of it. We must always keep in mind our Mother Tongue. 

The Genuine Spirit of Christmas

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

With lights and decorations galore

And carolers singing their heart-warming tunes

Makes the coldest air warm and delightful.

But most important, do not forget

What Christmas is really about

Jesus, born on Christmas morning

Who saved the world and all of us.

Yet a lot of people only care

For things that come in a box

But I care more for the one who came

And gave us new life on Earth.

But I must say it is quite fun

To get a gift from a friend

Just remember the man named Jesus

Who gave us holiday to share.

Live your dream and wear your passion

        Change is the essence of life; be willing to surrender who you are for what you could become. 

          Everything in life changes you in some way, even the smallest things. If you do not accept these changes, you do not accept yourself. For through these changes brings new and greater things to you, making you wiser as time progresses. To avoid these changes is a loss. You only live your life once. Do not waste a minute of it avoiding things. Let them come to you, and learn from them. There is always tomorrow. 

          This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching television. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, all emotions are beautiful when you eat, appreciate every last bite. Life is simple. Open your mind, arms , and heart to new things and people , we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.

          You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

Equal Rights, Equal Oppurtunities

            You are a human being. You have rights inherent in that reality. You have dignity and worth that exist prior to law.

          The first woman was created from the rib of a man. She was not made from his head to top him or from his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal to him. Nowadays in this world we are living there is no equality anymore. There is now discrimination. Discrimination in the status of life. Whether you are poor or rich. Rich people look at poor people lower than them. They show that they’re really high than those people who are poor. We are all creation of God. And God created us equally; there is no poor nor rich people we are all at the same level. In our justice system nowadays, the richer people just buy the justice even if it's their fault; they are the one who committed crime. In this matter justice should always prevail.

          Equality, rightly understood as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences; wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism.

Economic Development Issue

          Climate change is not just about losing lives anymore. It has become an economic development issue.

          The Philippines is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, which increase the frequency and intensity of heat-waves, floods, droughts, typhoons; alter agricultural and coastal and marine ecosystem output and productivity; reduce water availability and quality; and increase the incidence of climate-sensitive infectious diseases. The poor are especially at risk from these impacts. Many live in naturally hazard prone areas and are dependent of natural resources for their livelihoods.  

          The main expected impacts of climate change will come as a result of climate variability due to changes in precipitation, increase in temperature and sea level rise.  In terms of sector impacts, some of these include changes in agricultural yields for crops such as rice and maize. Changes in land use, as a consequence, of changes in rainfall pattern which will push people to migrate to higher elevations where soil is less fertile causing the rate of conversion of forest to agricultural lands to increase increasing greenhouse emissions. Coastal area resources (such as mangroves) and communities will be affected by sea level rises. Similarly, water resource availability is impacted by dramatic El Niño events, and infectious diseases may appear with more frequency. From the perspective of greenhouse emissions the Philippines is a minor emitter. However, emissions have been on the rise from both energy-use and land-use changes, with the latter as the major GHG contributor. 

          We have been warned as early as a decade ago that things will change and a lot of people won't admit its climate change but things are changing.