Reflective Essay

            As our subject teacher announced that we are going to post our essays on our blogs, I got scared because anyone can view my profile and of course, everyone can read my writings. Honestly, I really don’t have the talent in making essays, but I’m trying to make my write-ups good.

            My feeling when I was encoding my write-ups in my blog, is mixed up. Butterfly in my stomach won’t stop, it’s because maybe someone will laugh on my outputs and I don’t like that. But still, I gain my self-confidence and made up my mind to encode all my essays.

And because of our subject teacher, my write-ups are now much better than the previous because she corrected all my mistakes. Then, I also felt a happier side of me because I expressed what I feel in my blog. It is totally and originally me.

            After I finished all of the 8 write-ups, I was thrilled and excited. I got no regrets and I’m contented with what I am doing. And I discovered something, I JUST LOVE BLOGGING!

A White Heron Summary

       

There was a little girl named Sylvia. She was a girl who once lived in a crowded manufacturing town but has moved to her grandmother’s farm. One afternoon, Sylvia was driving home her cow, even though there was no light striking their path, their feet seemed knew the place well. On their way home, they usually had fun, they play hide and seek, the cow hide on the huckleberry bushes while Sylvia tried to find her. And then, there was a hunter who was lost and approached Sylvia. The hunter asked Sylvia if he could spend the night at her house. The stranger joins Sylvia on their way home. When they arrived, the hunter explained everything to Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia’s grandmother. His purpose for coming there is to find different kinds of birds to add on his collection. After explaining, Mrs. Tilley held him her invitation and makes him at home. He also added that whoever lead him to the bird’s nest, he’s willing to give 10 dollars. The next day, Sylvia went with the hunter into the forest to search that kind of bird but at the end of the day, they didn’t find any clues. Everybody got asleep except Sylvia, she can’t sleep because she is thinking of the bird. So, before the sun rose, she went out and started to look for it. She remembered a very old, tall tree. That tree is the tallest tree in the forest that she believed that whoever climbed to the top of it could see the ocean, and will see the entire forest. So, with courage and no hesitation, she climbed until she reached the topmost part. She saw lots of amazing things that is nor visible to many people during the day where only the nature and animals knew. There she saw the heron’s nest and was satisfied then go home. When she arrived, the hunter and Mrs. Tilley was at the door. The hunter was excited, eager to know what is the story or information Sylvia will share. But Sylvia, kept her mouth shut, she decided to keep it as a secret since she doesn’t want the heron to be killed. The hunter was disappointed and started to leave. Sylvia, on the other hand, got contented for keeping the heron’s secret even though the hunter offered some reward, and did not regret her decision.

Change: A Must

                As time goes by, changes occur at a rapid rate. Changes affect everything, our ways of living, our surroundings, our technology and even us. Changes are never-ending process. If changes do not happen, our life would be so boring, no excitement and joy. Our life would be so plain. From our ancestor’s way of living until our generation, it’ll be the same. Imagine you life without changes at all, does it sounds great? Think again.

                I have lots of ideas about changing our society, nation and our world but first, I will begin it from myself. My life is not the same as others. It may be unique but still has some characteristics in common. My life is not perfect, just like yours. So, there are some parts of my whole being that I want to change permanently. The first thing that I want is to change my attitude. Sometimes, I quarrel my brother and my sister without any valid reason or sometimes I get jealous to them. This makes myself look bad. Second is, I want to change my study habits. Because I start schooling at my early age, I am bored or get tired easily of studying. So, to entertain myself, I watch television, texting or surfing the net instead of studying my lessons. This leads me to get low scores during a test that’s why some of my grades decrease.

                Society is next. Our society nowadays is much more progressive than our ancestor’s generation. New technology is leading our society to be a better place. But even though our society had progressed a lot, there are still bad effects or bad things that are needed to be changed. For me, one of those is the crimes happening in our society. There are massive killings, stealing and bombing. Criminals do not choose rich or poor people as their victims as long as they can get what they want. I ask to erase or minimize these cases because it makes the image of a society looks bad.

                A nation is consists of societies. So, problems of a society may be also a burden to a nation. I also want to change the high level of crimes and corruptions. Corruption, for me, is the biggest issue I want to change. High ranking officials usually are the one who are corrupting the people’s money. Maybe, they think that no one will know about their secret. But there’s no secret that will not be revealed. Because of these corrupt officials, we, people of our own nation suffer from economic crisis and poverty, while they are wasting our money buying what they want. Imagine if they just make projects for that money, people will be happy because they help to those who are in need. And second, the crimes and killings. Authorities must end this show because many tourists are planning to come here but because of the threats and travel advisories, they cancelled their plans to save their own lives, and this makes our tourists decrease.

                Now is our world’s turn. Our world is suffering from a severe problem nowadays, which is climate change. There’s an urgent call about changing our common practices. We need to change our way of living that deals with our nature. Because of our practices like burning of plastics, dumping of garbages anywhere and not segregating our wastes properly, our nature becomes slowly damaged or destroyed which leads to a big that every human soul is suffering at present time. Another thing that I want to erase is the frequent wars occurring our world. Having wars don’t give us benefits, instead, it provide us headaches. Because of these wars, many houses, buildings and places are destroyed. It kills many innocent lives yet still won’t stop.

                Change is important. In order for us to change completely those bad deeds, we should discipline ourselves. If we won’t act or solve this problem at this very moment, maybe the next few hours will be too late. Time is precious, so don’t waste any second. We can achieve these changes by the help of our God through our determination and self-discipline. We should act as one by this very moment. And stay positive all these times.

Our Values Today

              Every person has its own values. Anything means something them. Anyway, what is a value and what are your values too?

              Values is anything that you cherished most, you loved it most or you adored.Values on the other hand, is not only about good things, there are also bad values like disrespect, etc. Today, as far as I researched, modern people has indeed values but these values are seldom the same with the people of the olden times. Modern people valued more the gadjets being produced by our high technology nowadays, while old people like things which are more simpler. An example of these are our grandparents, I mean, the old ones. Observe when you are playing modern songs and then they will react because according to them, it is not good to hear or it is noisy because they are used to hear mellow of love songs. Meanwhile, our values today is not so bad at all. We also have good values like good attitudes and valuing good things rather than valuing those things which are inappropriate. Aside from these things, we also have the values whichthe old ones still have, like good attitudes, respect, good deeds, sincerity and anything that is good not only in our eyes but also to other's. For me, what you are in the eyes os others is made because of the things you are valuing. Our values are based on what kind of person we are.

           Therefore, values is not just something. It is the component or bases which made us what we are today. It is important in a way that this will be our foundation on what we are today and even in the future. Let us focus ourselves in preserving our good values by spreading it tio everyone and by applying it, so that we can pass it on to our future children.

What Christmas Means To Me

       Christmas is a very special occasion wherein it is being celebrated all around the world, it occurs only once in each year. During Christmas, some countries like United States experienced
winter season this time. Some Filipinos called it "White Christmas".
Christmas has a lot of meanings but for me, it is the time for giving and forgiving.
       Christmas is the time for giving because it is one way of
helping the people who are in need or by thanking people in return. Giving gifts is also a way of extending help to the needy and by sharing the blessings that our God showered to us this fruitful year. You can also give some gifts or money to the people singing Christmas carols outside your house. Any amount matters to them. No matter how big or small it is, the most important thing is
that, you help them in either small or big ways. Then, Christmas is also the time of forgiving the people who hurt your feelings in the past. It is important to forgive them just what God done to us. No matter how big or small our burden is, God saved us from our sins at the cross. So, we are obliged to forgive others as God forgave us. And another thing, even though how kind you are all those years, but you don't forgive others, you're still having a big sin against God.
       For me, Christmas must be spent together with your family. No
matter how rich you are but you're alone, you still don't realize the true essence or spirit of Christmas. During Christmas, giving is better than receiving. And forgiving is the basic and important thing to do.

Reaction Paper: Thank You, Ma'm

         Reading exciting stories is fun. It is enjoying especially when
it has jokes and/or when you can get some lessons on that story like the story
of a young boy named Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones entitled
“Thank You Ma’am”.                                                                                            

          Honestly, I do like the reading “Thank You Ma’am”
because readers including myself learned a lot of lessons and new uncommon
words and its meanings. It also enhances one’s capability of reading and
vocabulary skills. On my part, this story the “Thank You Ma’am” is a good
choice for us to read. Because it did not just give us lessons but it also
somewhat thrills us if what Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones will do to the
boy named Roger after she caught him and what will Roger be like at the end.
But when you go deeper or go beyond with the story, some of the parts on the
story are not suitable for us to apply on our daily living. We all know that
each of us have differences. Maybe some characteristics are alike but not all
of it that makes a person unique from the other. On the story “Thank You Ma’am”,
there are some sentences or happenings on the story which made myself agree
with it. Like there are lots of kindness shown in different people in their
different aspects by the people who showed some pity on them on what they are
going through. But frankly speaking, in our modern word that were living today,
specifically that crisis is rising and making its way up above, these so called
good deeds towards others are seldom to come by. Another topic, for me, I kind
of disagree when Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones treat the boy whom tried to
steal her purse, because all bad people needs to receive their punishments for
them to repay their sins. Well, that boy is still young, he can still change
his way of living in order to be successful someday if that what he wants. But
for me, instead of doing what Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones have done to
Roger, I will let him realize what made him do that and will never do that
again to anyone by talking to him seriously. Honestly, I really hated when
someone is scolding me even my parents in a high toned voice, so I still agree
to Mrs. Jones that she had a conversation with Roger in a low, soft toned voice
not a angry one. I also disagree when Mrs. Jones tell that boy that he don’t
need to grab or snatch anyone’s pockets but instead he will just ask for it.
Why? Because if all victims or people will just say this one after a hard
moment like this, I’m sure, everyone will be dependent on anyone. One example
of this are the “Badjaos” roaming around the City of Oroquieta, they just ask
and ask and ask even their bodies are as strong as the carabao, they won’t use
it, instead they ask every person that they met on the streets some coins or
food. But overall, I’m really impressed on both Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones
for the kindness which is unlikely to be shown to people these days to that boy
named Roger. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones served as a role model not only
on the eye of Roger , mine but maybe also yours. To Roger, for his attitude
showed inside Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’ house, and it is very obvious
how Roger is being transformed slowly into a new him that night. In our life,
its still an unfinished battle between good and bad deeds, you will just chose
which one will you follow that’s why God gave us our freewill.

Pas' Ungko Festival

Philippines
is known for many festivals occurring every year. It is one of our ways of
giving thanks to our Creator and Giver for the blessings we receive throughout
the year. By celebrating these festivals, we can attract tourists or investors
to come here in the Philippines, it will also prevent our economy from dropping
low. One of these festivals is the "Pas' Ungko Festival" which is the
festival being celebrated here in Misamis Occidental.
This year, this
is the first time that the Pas' Ungko festival was being celebrated as
glamorous as before. contigents are from all cities and municipalities that is
part of Misamis Occidental. They participated in the following contests: the
Displaying of Booths, the Search for Mutia ng Misamis Occidental and the Street
Dancing Competition. i can say that the Capitol grounds was very crowded during
the festival, it seldom be empty. Like the final day wherein lots of people are
on the streets I mean its really crowded because it is the day of the Street
Dancing Competition. Contigents showed their best in showing their unique
dances. They did not notice the rays of the sun hitting their bare skin which
is like an ant bitting on me, but Thank God, I was under a tree while
witnessing that parade. Imagine all the people's sacrifices just to witness
that big event. I can also say that the best line of the people present on the
competition is " Payong, Oy Payong! Kay Di Mi Kita!". In English,
" Umbrellas on the front, it's blocking our view!". Even us, Me,
Joshua, Dy Ann and Jayah said that because honestly, we can't see their at the
back with their umbrellas even though were a little bit elevated. One of the
contigents really attracts us, we saw a boy dressed in a girl's outfit, we are
very confused if that was a girl or a boy because there's a part of him which
is girl but he is really a boy. We don't know what made them decide to dressed
that gay a girl's outfit, it really makes him a fool. But he's popular, people
are talking about him, I mean, it really attracts attention to the people, they
even laugh at him. And at that night, there was a fire dancing held at the
Baliangao booth, it was my first time to witness fire dance. Fire dancers
really showed their best well. They were four of them, all boys. They were
holding a chain with a ball of fire at the bottom, they swing it around and
around. The two of them blast the fire with gas on their mouth, I mean, they
spit the gas on the fire so it made it blast. The other guy, which we thought
was a gay, let the torch touches his' tongue, it really freaks me off. After
that, we go home. It was a memorable day for me, especially because i got a
number from one of the fire dancers.
Festivals are
very important. People from places to places gather to witness such event. This
is where you meet new friends or even the old ones. By these festivals, we can
thank our Creator for our abundant blessings. But my biggest concern is that
let's preserve the festivals up to the end but let's not ruin our surroundings.
Because after that day, Contigents left really huge amount of cellophanes on
their designated area. We can celebrate festivals by not making a place dirty
by throwing our garbages properly. So, let's conserve our Festivals, as well as
our Mother Nature.