Christmas is ..

Christmas season is what people are waiting for. There will be bonuses, many foods, gifts and vacation from the stressful days we had.

But then, many have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Some think that it’s just about the Noche Buena and the exchanging of gifts that has been the highlight of Christmas.

What does Christmas really mean? What is the true essence of Christmas?

I know you know who is Santa Claus. The man in red clothes, red hat, big tummy, long beard on his chin and the famous reindeers with him, living in the North Pole. It is believed that Santa is the one distributing gifts during Christmas when everybody has fallen asleep. But then it is also believed that he only give gifts to those who had been good. With that, the children loves Santa Claus, the gift giver.

And when you can also notice, most of the Christmas songs are about Santa Claus.

However, we are NOT celebrating Christmas because of Santa Claus.

We celebrate Christmas because this is the day that our savior, Jesus Christ was born. How can we forget that if in the word CHRISTmas itself have CHRIST on it?

Jesus is the reason for everything. Jesus is the reason why we have what we have today. Jesus gives us what we need. He may not be living in the North Pole, but he  is just everywhere. He may not have reindeers but he have angels. He does not give gifts but he gives blessings and he guide us. He is not only known during Christmas but all throughout the year, all throughout our life. You don’t need to have a list so he will know what you want and what you need. You just need to pray.

Also, Christmas is the time to give. “It is better to give than to receive,” as the saying goes. We give love this Christmas. We help others. Give today, help today and comes the day what you have given to others will somewhat comes back to you in the way you never expect it to be. Give love on Christmas day also says a song.

We must not forget the true meaning of Christmas.

"Equal Rights. Equal Opportunities."

They say that God created us EQUALLY, loves us EQUALLY, and looks upon us EQUALLY. In God's eyes, we are EQUAL. But in reality, in what I can observe in our community, there is NO EQUALITY at all.

Poor, rich, gay, lesbian, boy, girl, weak, strong, beautiful, ugly. These are some of the differences we have. There are those we see as higher things and there are those we see as the lower things. Most that belong to the higher group are treated very well and as for those who are in the lower group, treated not that well.

We have OUR RIGHTS to fight for. However, those who are greedy, use their powers to be higher or make others down. Crab mentality as they say.

For example, when they are fights between a rich and a poor, the rich one will win. Why? Not because they are innocent but because of MONEY. Because of their POWER. Now, the poor one will be dumped in the jail and pay for something that he or she did not do.

Another is when you go to malls. They will give their best service to those who looks sophisticated while as for those who looks "disgusting," they won't treat you well and sometimes they accuse you of stealing.

Also in jobs. They will hire you sometimes because of your good looks.

There is a big DISCRIMINATION written on our community if that's the case. No equal opportunities for all of us.

Before, girls were just in houses, no chance of going to school and experience going out. While for the boys, they have given all the privileges to do what they want.

But that were just BEFORE. Now, we have this GENDER AWARENESS. What the boys can do, the girls can also do. Sometimes, girls are also better than boys.

As a conclusion to this, either boy or girl, ugly or pretty, gay or lesbian. Whatever we may be, as long as we know we have our right, we must fight for it and the opportunities are open for all of us so NO one is allowed to take it from us.

Act Now!

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change is caused by factors that include oceanic processes (such as oceanic circulation), variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics and volcanic eruptions, and human-induced alterations of the natural world; these latter effects are currently causing global warming, and "climate change" is often used to describe human-specific impacts. 
Defined by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change

We are now experiencing this what we call CLIMATE CHANGE.

But then, there are things we can do in respond to this.

Planting trees. If we can notice, the mountains are now brown, meaning, there is deforestation. Cutting down trees without planting in return. Because of that, when it rains heavily, landslides easily occurs. There are no more trees to hold the ground. Also, leaves of trees traps the excess carbon dioxide in the air. Carbon dioxide is known to make the ozone layer thin and the sun's harmful UV rays can pass. Ozone layer protects us. Since it is now thin, we must take action for this. Plant trees.

Don't burn plastics. Plastics are used in almost everything. When we go to the market, plastics are used. But then, plastics are hard to decompose. It takes years for them to decompose. Many burn plastics which is not good. Plastics produced black smoke that contains carbon dioxide. As aforementioned, excessive carbon dioxide makes the ozone layer thin and warms the Earth.

Don't throw waste in the bodies of water. Water is a basic need of us humans. In drinking, to quench our thirst, in washing our clothes in order for us to use them again, also in washing our dishes. Because of its importance, we MUST take care of our water. Many diseases have been spread because of drinking dirty water. And when heavy rains come, floods easily occur because the plastics clogged the passageway of water.

Let us all be ECO-WARRIORS.
Let us help.
In those simple things we do, MANY will be BENEFITED. Not just YOU, your FAMILY but the WHOLE COMMUNITY.

ACT NOW!

Reflection - 2nd Grading Period

Another grading period has about to end. We had already gone through five months, meaning, we had gone half of our whole school year. All I can say is that it has been a busy grading period yet very enjoyable.

In this period, we have given many requirements. We had this project in Araling Panlipunan that only us, Marconi, passed on time. It was a scrapbook. It was also used in Manila by our teacher in AP for a national seminar. Another is our group project in ICT. It was a thesis-type project. The category of our project was on Tourism and Entertainment and the scope was on Food and Delicacy. For our English, we were grouped again and chose one story that we discussed to play.

Moving on, for this coming 3rd grading period, I want to be better. Because this Second Grading, I haven't done my part. I haven't improved like what I wrote in my first reflection. Last two grading period. I really need now to be at my best. No more playing. Fighting! ~

"Upholding English Proficiency for Communicative Competence."

English is known as our universal language for it is the most widely spoken language all over the world. Because of that, there is a need for us to be proficient in English to also improve our communicative competence.

Let us site example why there is a need for us to be proficient in English.

We all know that many Filipinos are going abroad to work and earn a living. Though, many news reports concerning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are saying that they have been maltreated and being imprisoned or kicked out of service. Almost all of them they have the same reason, MISUNDERSTANDING.


With that example, we can see the importance of English proficiency. It avoids misunderstandings between different nationalities having different languages. Meaning, it also unites us. It keeps peace all around the world. 

Applying our communicative competence or our knowledge in using such grammar to correct yourself .

Communicative competence is important. 

October, the English Month celebration. Let us all participate in the wide English speaking campaign. 

SPEAK ENGLISH. SUPPORT ENGLISH.

"Scientricity: Energizing Science Clubbers for Sustainable Energy."

"We don't know what can happen in the future until future becomes present and present becomes history." 

We are now living in a modern world full of new inventions or more known as technology. Technology is one way of having our work done faster and it requires for them electrical energy to be able to work. However, our electrical energy is only limited. Thus, there is a need for us to save or conserve energy.

Televisions, computers, radios, charger of our different gadgets, and other appliances that we are using everyday requires electrical energy. Since it is only limited, we need to save. Here are some ways of saving energy:

*Switch off. When lights are not in use or necessarily need to be used, switch off.
*Unplug. After using an appliance in home, make sure to unplug it. Also, don't overload circuit. It may cause fire.
*Clean your air conditioners atleast once a month.
*Use less.

Here are also some other ways in saving energy by http://www.cpsenergy.com/Residential/Energy_Efficiency/

Set your thermostat between 78 and 80 degrees during warm months. During colder months, a thermostat setting of between 68 to 70 degrees is recommended. Use a programmable thermostat to manage your daily heating and cooling needs. Try a free CPS Energy Savers Smart Thermostat. Try ceiling or portable fans to circulate air and make a room feel cooler. Turn off the television, fan and lights or lamps when you leave a room. Buy CFLs to replace less-efficient incandescent bulbs. Go with the Fluo!  Purchase energy-efficient appliances and products. Check the Energy Guide label and look for the ENERGY STAR® logo when purchasing these items. Take advantage of our home efficiency rebates! Turn off or unplug electronic devices, such as computers, power tools, cell phone chargers, digital cameras, and MP3s, when they are not being used. Reduce your use of hot water – take short showers, use cold water to wash clothes, etc. Try natural gas instead -- Gas water heaters, dryers, and cooktops are more energy efficient than their electric counterparts. Consider a Natural Gas Rebate  Perform a home energy audit, through CPS Energy Savers, to reduce common inefficiencies.

In those simple ways, we just didn't save money for our electric bill but also, we helped in saving energy.

Because when the time comes that electrical energy is already used up, we will all face the consequences. We may be back again to the traditional way. Using candles and lamps for night light, fans to give cool breeze of air and other more. Also, using candles for night light is dangerous for it may cause fire.

All together let us work as one. Save energy for the future generations.

My Teacher, My Hero

In every day that I go to the school, I always see her. Holding a chalk, speaking in front of the class, recording in her class record. What's so special about her? She's my hero.

"Teachers open the door but you must enter on your own." As the quotations says. This quotation simply means that in our life, there are many doors. Doors that represents our future or decisions. Teachers are holding the key to the bright door, to the bright future. Why so? It is because they help us gain knowledge and train us for our future. But then, they just open the door. It's up to us to enter on our own. Enter with all the learning we have.

My teacher is my hero. There are many reasons why I should call her one. 


Teacher is said to be our second mother. Our mother in our school. With that description of teacher it means that they care like mothers, love like mothers and act like mothers. They might be scolding us sometimes but they are just correcting our mistakes. Correcting us in the way that they know we can learn.

They mold us. They shape our future. They want us to be the best that we can for the future.

Now that's my hero!

To the rescue!

Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and many other heroes have been known for years due to their bravery to fight for our country.

Nowadays, we also have our modern day heroes just like the teachers, doctors, policemen and others. Those that may be didn't sacrificed their lives but have done something to others that made them be called 'heroes.'

My modern day hero is my true friend. I really don't have this best friend but I know I got many true friends. I will just take them as one for they have done, and still doing, similar things to me.


Whenever I feel down, they help me stand up to my failures and make me face the world stronger than before. They have always been there for me. Through my ups and downs, they never let me be alone. They never leave me behind.


There are times that we have misunderstandings and such but we still forgive each other and we got to have stronger relationship.

Those simple things they do to me, that have been enough basis for me to call them as my modern day hero.

True friends to the rescue!

Language: The Strength of our Nationality

                                              

Every country differs in many ways. In traditions, cultures and in language. Those differences that strengthens one's country.

Our Filipino language is said said to be our soul. Just like in a body, even if our body comprises of different parts, it still got this something that makes it as one. It's our soul. Same with our language. Philippines have many islands and different regions. In those different regions, they got their own dialects. But what is special about us is that we can still communicate with one another using our Filipino language.

Philippines have been ruled by Spanish, Americans and Japanese. Those countries also have their own language. In those times that we have been under them, they had affected our language. If we can notice, there are those words, terms and phrases that have been adopted by the Spanish language.

Our language is our strength. Our language is our identity that when they heard someone speaking like this, "Kumusta ka?", they will know already that we are Filipinos.
 
In order for our nationality to be stronger, we should speak in Filipino more often and be proud.