Willingness to Face the Challenges

I am now a senior student and soon I will be graduating, that is if GOD permits. What I have expected on this year on our Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) subject was far better than what I have imagined. TLE – ICT is easier this time for we no longer have accounting thing, which I will admit was so hard at first but was a piece of cake after studying it going back and forth a lot of times. Instead, our concern for the this year is more on using the internet which makes it great because we are just like having a research work. It was nice knowing the people behind the computer works and basic things about internet. Its also good to know that a lot of children managed to use the computer even without having a bit of education on using based on the Hole-in-the-Wall experiment by Dr. Sugatha Mitra and colleagues. Through this subject, I became more knowledgeable and advanced in technology. One proof of advancement is that we were able to write things which had happened to us during the day and stuffs that interest us through what we call “blogging” which is just like diaries and journals.

During the three months time, there were a lot of challenges that stood on my way. The hardest, I guess, was to write essays about given topics and the worst thing is when you are not in the mood to write anything. It was really hard to think of things when some things are bothering you and when you’re really lazy to do things. One thing that made it harder was when I was on a state better than my all time low. But however hard the challenges were, I am thanking that they were given to me because I’m not what I am now without those challenges.

These challenges are just a few of what I have surpassed in my life. Regardless of how lazy I am during those times, I still managed to do them right. Patience is what I have had during those times. We just really have to face these challenges in life. For when we don’t, we will be a failure. If not with the help of my family and friends, I couldn’t go this far. I just did what I know was right and that was to fulfill my obligations in school.

Though I know I have done my part, I know it is not enough. This time, I will try my best. I will do my homework and pass requirements on time. I will have to be a better me this time and be willing to do things without being told to do so and move on with life, whatever it takes. Lastly, I will be willing to embrace the challenges that will try to stand on my way.

Patois: Speaking it the Right Way

We would often outset a conversation with a stranger with a simple “Hi” or “Hello” and conclude them with a good riddance of “Goodbye’s.” “Goodbye” is a good riddance when we are talking to the people whom we really don’t know and for those who have different patois other than the patois we have in our countries. Difference in language is a big factor in a conversation which may sometimes lead to a speechless conversation or for being parsimonious of words we would like to utter. Patois is a possible barrier in building a good relationship towards other people of other nationality.

Language. It is a thing that can bind people altogether for when there is only one language spoken, the people will understand each and every one of them. Of course, who would understand a German speaking person in an English community if not even one of those English men studied German? No one. English is the world’s second most spoken language in the world. The patois of the Philippines, my country, on the other hand is Filipino. It is good to know that the people of my country can speak either English or Filipino without even having proper education on such languages. This I may say based on my experience. But wouldn’t it be better if we would master speaking both languages? Learning, either bad or good is still beneficial.

Two or so decades back, Filipinos were the most fluent English speaking people even though it is not our language at all. But because of the different slang's which rose from different classes of uneducated people that rose here and there, the record fell out of the hands of the Filipinos. Apparently, it is likely to go back to where it came from, coming back to our cradle again. My school, the Ilocos Sur National High School, found a way and it is none other than a “Speak to me in English or in Filipino with Kindness” campaign. This campaign aims to train the students in speaking English and or Filipino with kindness, to make us, students, fluent speakers and also to have our country globally competitive again. We all know that it takes a lot of courage for an ordinary child or even a teenage girl to go up on stage in front of the crowd and perform her oratorical piece and thus, this campaign can help us a lot. English language is known in every part of the world and Filipinos are known all over the world. It would be nice to hear a Filipino speaking in English fluently and kindly and upon hearing that person, we would be proud that he is a Filipino. Such language is so easy to learn and yes it is only in our heads that after sometime, we may run out of words to utter when speaking to a foreigner or a speaker of such language. Learning is quite fun and so is speaking. No doubt about it. We can never hide the fact that the people who have their jobs overseas are mostly speakers of the English language. This is just a proof that language doesn’t only have one or two help to all of us, but a great many. There are ways wherein we can learn either of the two languages. One is by going to school who offers both languages. Another is just by reading any book with either language. Another one is by just by talking to our friends using language or talking to people on the internet who speaks English and Filipino language. Who knows, someday, somehow, we will never know, we might not only be fluent speakers but also a great teacher of this language and we might get a credit out of it. One thing we have to put in mind is to keep ourselves composed and not be rude when speaking, for when we speak kindly, we earn the respect that is right for us.

On the other hand, let us not forget our own language. As what Dr. Jose Rizal said, “one who doesn’t love his own language is worst than an odorous fish.” These words that he has uttered are true. We wouldn’t want our fellow countrymen just speaking other countries’ language. It is just shameful to hear and see one if so. Filipino is the patois of the Philippines. We might not know it but different people who visit our country want to learn our language also. It is because these people find comfort and they feel welcome in our country so they would want to keep us close. We may sometimes be wrong in our grammatization but we can improve it in time. Practice draws us closer to perfection. Language is most likely pertaining to just talking and talking and just doing the talk and accompanying it with shouting is boastful.

Being one who can speak a great number of languages and boasting about it is such a wrong doing. Humbly sharing your learning on speaking different patois with kindness is kindness to itself. Remember, language is speaking and speaking without acting is nonetheless, nothing. So when in a conversation, speak it the right way, speak it in a kind way.

Nutritious Foods Everyday, Keeps Us Healthy All The Way

Every year, the Philippines celebrates the Nutrition Month on the seventh month which is July. “Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan” is this year’s nutrition month theme. So what are the highlights of this celebration and what are these ways wherein we can avoid these lifestyle diseases?

Our school is just one of a thousand schools in the Philippines and there are a lot of activities done with this span of time. Nutrition quiz, Nutri – jingle, cook and food festival, mural painting and oration about nutrition are just a few. These activities are just a stepping stone in introducing us to its real concern. The foods that we sold during the food festival - banana split, pizza, and cheese sticks have the vitamins and minerals that must be acquired by our bodies in the form of snacks. It added knowledge not only to the participants but more on to the people within the schools vicinity.

The world is in a global recession and we all know that it is affecting all of our lives. A lot of people have lost their jobs which resulted to times wherein they may not have their regular meals. The “Bawal Magkasakit” phrase is what I hear every now and then. These are the words the poor scathingly utter, for they do not have the means to buy medicines if an illness happens to strike them. The people who are affected by the hunger find ways to get the feeling out of their heads and what they found out were super modernized gadgets that they didn’t know would change the world in a blink. Cellular phones, cars, machineries – these are the things that could change the life of a person to a better future, to a bitter future or both. These gadgets help us do our work easier and faster but on the other hand, they also cause radiation and pollution which are contributory to the lifestyle diseases which add tumult to people’s turbulent minds.

So to lessen the turmoil brought, we can have our own little ways, from rising to lying back in our beds again. We must perform exercises early in the morning and we must not skip breakfast for it’s the meal which we shouldn’t miss to help us keep on the go. Fruits and vegetables are the foods which gives us energy so we should have these foods whenever we have our meals. Taking a bath at least once a day is advisable for it keeps us clean and germ – free. Take a glass of milk to strengthen our bones and take a nap after a days work. Set an appointment with a physician at least once a year and take in multi – vitamins if needed. Last but not the least, take a shower before going back to bed for a better 8 or so hours sleep. These are just a few things to help us keep out of lifestyle diseases. Discipline is the key in attaining a disease – free body. Its never to late to prevent ourselves from diseases, remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, nutritious foods every meal keeps us still and kicking. Always put in mind that wellness is healthiness and healthiness is man’s greatest wealth.