ON BEING TAUGHT BY STUDENTS

I woke up in the early hours of the day. I stepped on the floor and look myself at the mirror. I was really excited to go to school for the reason that it was the day wherein our school will be going to celebrate the KYSD- Know Your School Day. When I took a bath in the cold and frosty water early that morning, I was thinking of what will happen when my classmates are the ones who are going to handle us instead our bona fide teachers. Questions are coming up on my head- Are we going to have a regular class? ; Or we are going to have a messy class because they are only my classmates and we are just the same and identical from each other?

I went to school excitedly and waited for my other classmates to come.
In a little while, the school bell rang and our classes started. The first area under discussion is the Computer subject. Our teacher at that point in time was Rheena, one of my close friends. The class was very noisy and Teacher Rheena kept on shouting and tried to be the one in charge of us. But some of my classmates don’t want listen at her. Madam Kerr, our teacher-in-charge for that subject was there and she told us to shut our mouth off. We all then became silent. So, student teacher, Rheena continued her discussions.

When we were being taught by Rheena, I wasn’t so nervous because I know that she is not so strict. I know she don’t know how to scold us. But, somehow, I was also afraid when she would lose her temper and then she will be unable to find her control to us. She might tell the teacher that we were so messy and disorganized- and this another deduction to our points.

For other subject that was managed by a student-teacher, it was also alright. But do you know what; I thought at first that some of my classmates that were asked to manage and handle the class will be having favoritism or a bias and preferential treatment. But I believe I was in the wrong thought.
After all, I already make out that my classmates are all very competitive. And I appreciate and understand that.

There was also an instance in which I thought that this student teacher of ours will be having an awfully long and difficult question paper. I was afraid because this stand-in teacher teaches not so clearly. I was afraid if he will give us an examination with some items that he has not talk about and point out a while ago.

But still, at first, I can call myself as an ‘ignorant’ one about the KYSD. At first, I was excited and keyed up about the said circumstance. In fact, it was my first time to have been taught formally by a student ever in my life.
Huuuuhhhh… I was so happy to have an opportunity to know my school more; to know how a teacher teaches the students. Actually, it was a very, very memorable day.

MY FRIEND IS A GENIE...

`Do you believe on genies? How about, magic? Are there really magic nowadays? I don’t think so. They are not true.
What if one day, a genie will approach you and ask for your three majestic wishes? What will you tell to them?

I don’t know. For me, there are no genies. But, what if these creatures really exist? Of course, I will tell them all my wishes- everything that I wanted. It is an opportunity.

First of all, I will ask a good and wealthy future for me and my family. I will tell the gnome to give us the best family tie- no troubles, no pain, and no mistake to happen. Of course, I love my family. That is how good I am.
That’s all for my 1st wish.

My second wish is a material ones- lot of money. I want to have money so that I can buy whatever I want. I want to buy everything that my mom and dad want. My mother wants to have our own computer set. She wants to have our own PC for the reason that she knows that it can help us in our studies and also for her work.
For my dad, he wants to have our own car. Not just one, but two cars- one for our service car and another as our delivery truck. You know, we live because of cargo forwarding, so he wants to have our own truck.
I also want to buy lots of things for my sis- colorful dresses, dolls, chocolates, and many more. I desire to buy a new TV set and DVD player. I want to have all these things. I am longing to shop for lots of grocery items and food. I am hoping for everything. I want to have money in order to fix and finish our house. Nowadays, everything is expensive.
My mom wants to have our house be finished before the end of 2006, but do not have budget for it. As of now, we just live in an undone house. I wish this house will be settled and we shall live very comfortably. I wish for all the best things. I would like to have my private bedroom, my own divan, my personal study table, or even my secretive closet which is jam-packed with my much loved pants, and shirts, and also shoes.

Finally, my third wish. Now, it is all for me. I wish that I’ll be a successful fellow, and will be able to finish my studies well. I covet to be what I want to or I will be capable to have my own profession, so that I can work and provide everything for me. I have a desire to be able to graduate and get ahead of all those obstacles.

I know… even though these genies are not really accessible in life, it is still believable to have all these things- just a minute of sacrifice, snap of patience, and an instant hard work…
…and tomorrow you will subsist what you want to be. Execute it and you’ll see the outcome.

MY FOREST ADVENTURE...

It was around 3:00 a.m. when I woke up at that moment. I found myself having forty winks on the native cot next to the colossal giant tree. The surroundings were dark. I opened my eyes to the four corners of the earth and try to see everything that surrounded me. “Where am I?” I asked myself like a ghost. Then, I finally recognize that I was left with no-one else but me. I was left unaccompanied on the cold, dark, and silent forest. “Left alone in a dark wooded area?” I am surely afraid on the dark. “Why am I left here? Where is mom? Where is dad? Where is everybody...?”

Suddenly, I scampered swiftly through the dark-skied area. I ran with no explicit direction. I don’t know where to go. I was looking for my friends, my relatives, or even for the people who I didn’t know. I was looking for someone who can help me go back home.

After that, I heard a creepy sound. It seems that somebody was scratching. Suddenly, I have the sense that somebody was after me. I heard a howling. It wasn’t from a dog. And so, it was a fox’s voice. It hurriedly came within reach of me. It was trying to draw closer me. It was moving towards somebody, and I know it is really me whom the fox was looking for. It looked like that it was hungry-very very hungry.
So, I ran with the maximum speed as I am able to. Then, a big, bloodcurdling and creepy snake went near me. I screamed ear-splittingly but nobody took notice of me. The snake sinks its teeth into my arms. I howled thunderously. I cried, I sobbed, and I then shed my tears. But nobody can really help me be out of that moment. I can’t do anything. Blood was oozing. I saw the red droplets jump down to the ground. Then, I can hear people’s laughter. I thought at first they were only my imagination. But their voice, it looks like they are surrounding me. They are going to get in touch with me. As their voices got louder, I know, they are getting closer and closer and closer at me. I know they are going to do something on me. They are going to kill me!!! Thus, I ran as fast as I could. I can’t do anything. I looked back, and there they are. They are all bringing a sharp stiletto.
Mom and dad weren’t there to help me. Nobody took notice of me when I was there. I thought it was the end of my life. I know that any moment from that point in time, I can die. But still, I continued to ran, ran, and ran. But I fell down on the ground. My feet were very tired. I was very feeble and weak.
And there they are. They are going to take my life now. I can really see the sharp item going down to hit me. Haaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!! I cried so loud.

But before they sink their knife on me, I heard my sister’s voice calling my name. She asked me to wake up because we are going to my aunt’s house. they were going to left me if I wasn’t able to fix myself within 15 minutes.
Whhhhhhhhoooo… I thought it was really the end of me…

…but it was only a spine-chilling dream.

DREAMS INTENDED FOR TOMORROW...

Past is past. For those years, there were joys, there were happy moments. All the tears that came should brush away. All the sadness, the pain, the laughter, and the sad and happy moments, should be forgotten. All of these are today’s memories. But, how about for tomorrow. Just try to be still one day. Try to pause and think, “What shall I do in the future?” What do you want to have soon? Do you ever think about the future? Ask me this question and I will say ‘yes’. It’ true, I always think about the things that I want to have in the future.
I want to have my very own dream house. I want to have my own car. I want to have all these things. I don’t wish for the biggest house, but instead, just the ones that is enough for me and my family. I want to have the most shiny and latest model of the car. And so, I can travel around the world. I want to drive on my own car.
These things are on my dreams and wishes. I enjoy thinking about the future. Try it. Just what Filipino people say, “Libre lang mangarap”. But this is possible. If I try hard and do my best, who knows, I can have all this things or even more.
Before I go to bed, I think of what I should be for tomorrow. I want to be a teacher but I don’t have that long patient. I want to be a nurse, but nurses cost too much before they become a very successful nurse. I want to be an office employee or a secretary, but I think I cannot carry those heavy overtimes. Most of all, I want to have my very own business. The business where in I am the only head. I want to have my own shop. But in the other side of me, is myself thinking, “what if this shop will go down and people won’t buy my products?”
Ooooooooohhh… it is all up to the future. We can’t predict what will happen next. It is all on God’s will. I know that time will come and He will give me everything that is really for me. Everything has as a purpose. But we should not just trust everything on Him. God gives and we should work on it. It is also in our own hands.
All the things that I wish will all be granted if He really allow me to obtain all of these.
The red, shiny car, the dream house, the latest things, and to have my own business that will grow and bloom- this are the things that I desire to have.
We don’t know. Time is unpredictable.
Who knows? One day, when I woke up, I will be on a glamorous room; gazing on the window, is my red car; and on the telephone line, is an employee, calling me ‘ma’am’, and bringing up to date information about my shop.

We don’t know…

WHAT THE STARS AND THE SKY TELL ME ABOUT LIFE

Every time there is an overnight activity for all Stargazers’s Society members, I always feel excited. Of course, I will be with my classmates and friends for the whole night. We can talk for each other, play simple games, and have all the moments to be treasured for the rest of our lives.
Before I go to school for the overnight, I went home and pack up my things. I make it a habit to bring my blue rosary every time I go out the house. So I put it on my pocket. I was hurrying at that time because my friends already called me up on the phone. I said goodbye and goodnight at everybody who is left at home. After, I stepped out the house.
While I was on the jeepney, taking a ride going to the UPHS campus, I was thinking- what if my friends don’t care for me? What if when I arrive there, I will be out of the group?
Finally! I was there! I entered the gate and the guard welcomed me. He asked for my permit slip. After, I looked for my friends. Then I saw them taking some pictures as a remembrance. My friend, Janelle, took me a shot as she saw me. They were all shouting and welcomed me with their smiles and jokes. Irene said that I will be sleeping beside her. Then, another classmate came and shared to me her big pack of chips. I was silent and still at that time, and Janelle thought that I got angry at her. But I wasn’t really angry at her. The truth is I was just thinking of my father at that time because he wasn’t feeling well when I went out the house. But later, I thought, this night is now for me. I have to enjoy. I know father will be alright. So I have fun. I played with my classmates even though it was very dark.
From just a distance, I can see my most admired guy in UP high. He is not kind and good. It’s just that he is very handsome- his face, his eyes, and his smile. It all makes him cute. Others don’t like him because he is naughty. But I don’t care. He is not that special to me.
Back to my friends, they made that night not just an ordinary night, instead, a special ones.
After Mr. Go’s lecture, we went back to the leader. Everybody was arguing and had a disagreement of what movie is to be watched first. My classmate was preparing the discs. She then said that we were going to watch the movie “Princess Hours”. We were so excited that we went near the TV screen. And so, it started. At that time, the second year students came and asked us to change the disc. They said that we were going to watch the movie entitled ‘Shutter’. We were all screaming when the show began. My friend, Janelle, comforted me for I was very scared. Then, a teacher came and told us to cut the show. We all went out. My friends told me that we will just stay in our site and talk with each other there. We bought something to eat in the middle of the night.
After, we all slept. It was already around 3:00 P.M when we had a nap.
At morning, they said “good morning” to me. We took some picture for the last 3 shots. Then, we went home.
And there I know, my friends all care for me. They are concern for me.
At night, I watch the stars. They all twinkle. I know they don’t just twinkle for me, instead, also for my friends. Every time I am starring at those stars, they are also gazing at them.

PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY!

It is hard to keep smiling if troubles are at hand. It is hard to feel alright, even though everything went wrong. Why is my life like this? Everything is cruel at me. Every time I go home from school, I think it is better not to go home. My parents always welcome me with their arguments. When I hear those words they say, I think it is hard for them to feed and provide our needs. “Why?” Is it because, they don’t have enough money to sustain our needs or it’s just because, they don’t have it at all? I just don’t mind their quarrellings. I just go to a corner and show to them that I am okay. At night time, I can’t sleep, thinking those words on my head. Everything is bothering me.
When I woke up in the morning, I right away rush going to the bathroom, eat breakfast, comb my hair, and fix myself for school. As I go out the house and close the door, I feel like a little bit better. Especially as I enter the school, and then I saw my friends- Janrey, Janelle, Jurrine, and Irene, I feel comfortable. I feel like I have no problem anymore. But it’s only what I think. When we are all together, we always share our insights.
When I face my friends, I show to them that I am happy, that I am alright. I act like I have no problem in the family. But deep inside me is a crying soul, a soul which needs the pure and instant laughter, a natural smile. ‘Yes’. It is true. It’s hard to act as a happy person if you aren’t really happy at all.
I think I have the entire problem in the world. Do you know? I really feel pity at my parents sometimes. I know they are doing everything for us and for my other siblings. There are times when they don’t have money for my baon. If I am not in the mood, I mock and blame them. But if I am, again and again, I say ‘it’s alright’.
Don’t you ever feel like this? The feeling wherein your heart is being crumpled? The feeling where devils are teasing you?
For my links and other acquaintances, I am happy at all times. Because they just see my outside face, the second me, the fake ones. I know they always see a natural smile from me, but it’s just on their own eyes. I feel shame when they see me crying because I have thousands of problems. I am afraid they can see the real me- the one who had the expression of grief.
Problems are surrounding me, and they all do not know that. My family is financially going down right now
Yes, my life is like this. There is too much to pretend. At times, I am happy, and occasionally I feel heartbreaking. But, I know, I am still very lucky, I have my family and my friends.

DAD or MOM?

Did somebody ever asked you, “who do you like more, your mom, or dad?”
For other people, they will say ‘both’. I think they don’t mean that question. Of course, it asking if who is better of the two choice or who of the two do you prefer more.
Actually, I am a daddy’s girl, but for me, I think I think I like my mom more. This doesn’t mean that I don’t want my dad. It’s just that there is something in my mom which is greater than my dad. For sure, there are many advantages and disadvantages for both of them.
My father loves to drink. He is now 42 years of age, but still he loves to be with those alcoholic liquors. He sometimes feel sick and I think it is because he drinks too much and too hard. At times, I got angry at him for the reason that he comes home very drunk.
My mom and dad are both working as a cargo forwarder. But for me, my mom works more. When we have the pay for the month, my father makes it a habit to ask 50% of it. This career is only our financial source. The part which given to my father goes to nothing. He has that bad habit, in Filipino term he has the ‘bisyo’. He doesn’t have any other women. It is just that he always give everything for his cock. Every time he has the money, he always goes to the cock fighting arenas an drop his money there. He is not the type of father that comes home very tired from work, and gives his pay to his wife. My father is not like that. He is different.
But I understand. He is really like that. I just wish that he would change that bad habit. I still love him very much. Nothing can replace him.
“Mother knows best” as what they say. Yes, I know. My mom knows everything best for our family. Even the house that we’re living in now- it’s all because of her. Because of all her effort just to stand our very own house, she makes me believed that she is the breadwinner in the family. She even does everything- washing our clothes, cleaning the plates, and all the household errands. There are times when I got angry at her. But then I realize she is very right. Everything is alright if my mom is there. She knows what her kids want and what they don’t.
That is why I choose my mom more than my dad. But you know what, I am very proud to have a father like him. Life without him is impossible for me. Even my mom, she is truly my life. My parents are both very special for me. I love them. Nothing can replace them in my heart. They are everything need to live in this world. I love my mom and dad very much.
How about you? Which do you prefer- your mom or dad?