“REFLECT THEN REFRACT”

            As what all people have in mind, “Life is too short”. True, life is just like one glimpse when its God’s time, it’s like 1 day for them in heaven and is just like only millisecond for God. Life is just a twinkling of bright yellow star, so we should make the very most out of it.

            One midnight, I awoke then I couldn’t sleep so I went out and gazed at the stars. I tried to remember what had happened the hours before but it’s just that I can’t remember a thing. I don’t know why. Then I woke up in the reality that months, weeks, days and hours had completely passed since the first quarter in my senior life in high school begun. I realized that another quarter was already finished, I am now halfway. I tried to reflect on the things that I did, if I had made my promise to do better in the second quarter but I can hardly remember a single thing but one thing I’m sure of is that I have learned some things in every subject that I am taking, especially in my ICT subject because its one of my favorite aside from English and Social Studies. I must admit that we have had so much out of class activities this quarter but all is well. We had still good lessons in ICT though. We just had activities regarding HTML tags and I easily grasped the lesson so well, thank God. Wow! I now remember these things. It’s great!

            I just hope I did well in every decision I made, in every recitation I had, in every activity I performed, in every quiz I had taken, and in every periodic test I answered because this will greatly affect my future.     

            Here comes again these days, so fast like an ultra jet. Tomorrow, we don’t know, would be again December, the yuletide season, and then January which will be the announcement of the winners of the much awaited announcement of winners of the Kannawidan essay writing competition which I had joined last July and then, it would be February the announcement of Upcat Passers. I am praying to God that he would let us win and would let me pass the Upcat. And then It would be March, Graduation Day!, oh yes, I would be soon a college student.

As of now I would like to live my life to the fullest because life is too short…………

Promoting Digital Literacy through English Proficiency

Filipinos country-wide, face the most important tasks, these are to relinquish the status quo and embrace a new definition of public media that is more local, more inclusive and more interactive. They should develop English proficiency by obtaining the necessary funding and hiring students who bring digital skills, diversity and content expertise. They should support English based activities with strengthened editorial oversight and professional development opportunities. They should create a culture that supports independent, fearless acts that serves their campuses and communities. They should also move full force into digital media and acquire the necessary expertise and resources as they redirect funding from outmoded broadcast infrastructure into digital technology.

“Digital literacy” is a concept that is repeated time and time again in most of the studies related to the information and knowledge of the society. The argumentative context in which this expression tends to appear is the development of the information for the society based on information and communication technologies. As a result, the accelerated appearance of such technologies is crucial and the aim is that a particular society assumes a competitive position now and in the future.

Various expressions are used that transmit the same idea with slight differences in meaning: “information literacy”, “literacy in information and communication technologies (ICT)”, “media literacy”, “network literacy”, “media education”, and  “education in communication”. Less general is “media education”. This term keeps the educational dimension of the previous definition, but is more precise: it refers specifically to the means of communication, embracing traditional media like the press, radio, and television, as well as more recent innovations such as the Internet, second and third generation mobile phones, and others.

Digital literacy can no wonder contribute to the betterment of the country for it gives our societies a viable position in the time to come. Student’s intelligence would be upgraded and technical skills would be further developed. Literacy in technology has the possibility to boost up our country like Japan, US or Russia. Digital literacy would improve the lives of Filipinos if it is absorbed by the whole nation.   

The only one who could help to promote and uphold this digital literacy to the public is the people itself. Even students through studying by which the students learn through writing and speaking, must have an endeavor to promote digital literacy to the public. Digital literacy is now up to date that it needs more preferment and advancement for the good of the entire studentry and not only that but same as through with the locality and country.

Concerted Effort of Science and Chemistry Leads to a Better Posterity

Science is the root and the footstool of sundry things since it came to existence. Science have profoundly altered and amended the way human beings live, and  instantly increased control of reproductive processes which have metamorphose the conditions of life for billions of people.

The impact of scientific method, scientific discovery, and technological change has been such an immense aid to our daily living. The incredible richness and fantasy of science is an act of defiance to Man, as if he had to do better in any domain same way as flying faster than birds, diving deeper than whales. Sciences gave us the grasp of the truth of how our life in the universe is.

To every thing of this world, be it living or not, there is structure. This contrariwise, is Chemistry. When chemistry was groping for understanding, there was a reasonable reluctance to merge the animate and inanimate worlds. Chemistry is the science of molecules and their transformation is it natural or human-steered. It is as much an affirmation of humanity as a new poem.

"CHEMERGY: Chemistry and Science Clubbing in Synergy". The theme means the power of cooperation of chemistry and science in working together to produce a result not obtainable by chemistry alone or by science alone. They need each other in order to produce a certain kind of result. Thus without the other one, the desired result cannot be achieved.

Two things work better if they are together, this explains what synergy means. It comes from the Greek word supergene which means “to work together”. These two things collaborate and liaise with each other to produce the perfect result. If the other is not present then the result would not be pleasing and graritifying as if something is missing.

Chemistry and Science, if successfully combined, would give extraordinary and profligate innovations. Science and Chemistry, would work together hand in hand to accomplish and achieve goals in helping mankind. Same as through with Science and Technology, newest products were manufactured by the cooperation and the teamwork of the two. Thus same as these, Science would combine and unite with Chemistry to obtain some kind of result that could very soon be beneficial and advantageous for all of us in this earth and even in posterity.

"A Universal Hero for Me and for You"

On the words of Norman Mailer, a U.S. novelist and journalist from the book The Presidential Papers stated that “Ultimately a hero is a man who would argue with Gods, and awakens devils to contest his vision.”

Heroes as known in our lexis are told to be a remarkably brave person, somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character, and somebody who is admired for outstanding qualities or achievements.

Since we were small kids of about 3 to four years old, we started becoming cognizant to what a hero is. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings at a single bound—look, up there in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman! We have known Superman, a man with superhuman powers who is famous for possessing some extraordinary gift like superhuman strength, Flight, and other marvelous and astonishing powers, but According to David Mamet, a U.S. writer and film director from the book A Whore's Profession: Notes and Essays, "Kryptonite”, said that, “Superman comics are a fable, not of strength, but of disintegration. They appeal to the preadolescent mind not because they reiterate grandiose delusions, but because they reiterate a very deep cry for help.”

Since the very beginning of time heroes are in vicinity. Even before Jesus came to this earth we have had heroes, there was Noah, Moses, and King David. Then came Jesus to do an exploit and heroic act for the whole mankind and that is to come down from heaven to this earth who forfeited himself to die a demise on the cross of Calvary for us to be ransomed.

Jesus was a hero even before the creation, is still a hero right at this very second and will always be a hero for the years to come for those who love him and trust him. The Lord Jesus Christ was the greatest hero that ever lived on this earth. He is a new hero as days go by. A new hero, than whom nothing purer or braver was ever led by love of men into conflict and death, will make the gallows glorious like the cross.

The most heroic act that happened in this world was God coming down on earth to give his life to save and ransom us from Satan and sin. At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death. At the time Crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst Criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by Crucifixion Jesus was to be nailed to the Cross by His hands and feet. Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There’s a tendon in the wrist that Extends to the shoulder. 

The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the Wrist that tendon would tear and Break, forcing Jesus to use His back Muscles to support him so that He could Breath. Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to Support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His Back and using his legs just to continue to Breath.

 Imagine the struggle, the pain, the Suffering, the courage. Jesus endured this Reality for over 3 hours. Yes, Over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of Suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound To His side, but do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But Before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the Flesh from His body. The beating is so horrific that His Face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture. ” He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His Wounds.

 The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood. Jesus poured all 3.5 Liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His Members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His Chest. All these without Mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his Face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, Only for its higher part, where His hands were Nailed). Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the Gates of Heaven, So that you can have free Access to God so that your sins could be “washed” away. All of them, with no exception! Don’t ignore this situation. 

JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU and FOR ME, FOR ALL OF US! He died for you! God Has plans for you show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your Life! 60 Seconds with God… For the next 60 Seconds, set aside what you’re doing and take this opportunity! Let’s see if Satan can stop this. All you have to do is: 1. Simply Pray for the person who sent this message to you: 2.Then, send this Message to people. The more the better. 3. People will pray for you and you will make that many people pray to God for other people. 4. Take a Moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, for doing what pleases Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus’ instructions. He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father in Heaven, but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven”.

       All of these just prove that our present day hero must be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“MY TEACHER; I AM PROUD OF YOU, I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MY HERO”

Since the very beginning of time heroes are in vicinity. Even before Jesus came to this earth we have had heroes, there was Noah, Moses, and King David. Then came Jesus to do a heroic act for the whole man kind and that is to come down from heaven to this earth to sacrifice himself to die on the cross of Calvary for us to be saved. As time pass by, more heroes arose. Each country have heroes, even each single city now have also heroes.

What is a hero any way? A hero or heroine is a person who is distinguished for valor and who did something noble at a great cost.

At present, in movies, there are heroes like Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. They posses super powers and saves lives but they are just fiction and unrealistic but we have our own true heroes proved and notorious like Lapu-lapu, Urduja and many more. During the 19^th century, Philippine heroes hastily arose. The most prominent is our own national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, Andes Bonifacio, and Apolinario Mabini who fought for our country’s freedom.

At this very moment still heroes are commencing. Recently, a young girl of about 12 years old in the Visayas Region had saved the Philippine flag during the typhoon.

Don’t you know that we have so many heroes in the Philippines? Yes we do, they are our beloved and honored teachers. You may ask why? It’s for the simple reason that they are the one who precast us in what we had become right at this very moment. Jesus was also a teacher to the people, he is teaching the people to believe and worship God, God at the same time was Jesus Father and Teacher. Could Rizal be what he is today if he was not taught and molded by his teachers? Of course not. Teachers are teaching us how to live, and how to survive. They are the heroes in this generation in which our future lies.

Imagine all the hardship, the sacrifice and the courage a teacher exhibits in a day. They teach people for their future. They are doing this not for their own sakes but for others. They need to do this for the posterity of this world.

We need then to love and cherish our teachers, if we say teachers they could be anybody who can contribute on to our knowledge and experiences. They could be our parents, teachers in school and even our friends. They really are our heroes and we then can shout and say, “MY TEACHER; I AM PROUD OF YOU, I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MY HERO”.

The Rumination

Two and a half months, 68 days, 680 hours have passed since I have been under the slates of Ilocos Sur National High School underneath a chamber named Maxwell from the showery days of July up to August of 2011 era.

In these times, experience and life have been my greatest professors and God with my family have been my never ending and over all protector, supporter, guider and instructor of my life as these days elude by.

I have strolled at least a mile I think to finish another chapter of my life, my ultimate year in high school. Great teacher have I met that taught me things I need to know. .

Great times have I shared with my friends as well as my enemies right here by my side. As an ordinary student, life is full of discussions, reports, lectures, and lessons here, there and everywhere. Sometimes I even consider it exhausting and very strenuous.

With all these days, plenteous assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, and accomplishments have I had which I consider as the immense and enormous challenges I have faced. I overcame and triumphed over them by the help of my aptitude, understanding, intelligence, and helping hands. The computer and Internet contributed a lot to me. This I have studied its history and its pioneers in my ICT subject and I’m very grateful though.

I think I executed a good work for this first quarter because I’m holding on to the fact that I’m doing my best and God will do the rest.

Moving on to the next quarter I would not only double my efforts but triple it for my future. I will have a vow, and a pledge that I would do better and ameliorate than before.

President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address: Unequivocal or Vague?

    It is the tradition and constitutional duty of the President of the Philippine Republic to deliver a State of The Nation Address or more renowned as the SONA. The SONA is a yearly tradition when the President reports on the status of the country, and may also propose to Congress, before which the address is delivered, certain proposals for legislation that are believed to be necessary."Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that “The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session,”

    There have been 71 preceding SONAs since the initial one was delivered by President Manuel L. Quezon at the Legislative Building on June 16, 1936.Aquino's SONA on Monday, June 25, 2011 was the 72nd in history, and the 25th of the Fifth Republic."The SONA as an annual practice began during the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The 1935 Constitution, as amended, states in Article VII, Section 5 that “The President shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the state of the Nation, and advocate to its consideration such measures as he shall judge crucially and expedient." Thus, the annual address to the legislature became known as the State of the Nation Address.

    President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III highlights his accomplishments and projects in his second State of the Nation Address. Among these achievements include the lower unemployment and hunger rates, a more optimistic investor confidence and the continuous efforts to fight corruption in the government. He discussed about the eradication of the wang-wang which symbolize abuse of authority, have had fewer hungry Filipinos, betterment of the country’s economy, cheaper energy sources in the years to come, zero based budgeting on government programs, proper use of taxes, a more honest DPWH, no more importation of rice, benefit for police and military personnel, settling the Spratly Island dispute, no to human trafficking, more jobs for the Filipino graduates, implementing health programs for the poor, fortifying ARMM against political crimes, resolution for flood problems, about the monorail transportation system, the new ombudsman, and ending crab mentality.    
     PNoy’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon drew mixed reactions from the Filipinos, with some saying they found it lacking while others lauding it for supposedly sending a clear message to Filipinos. Some gasped the full message of the SONA, but, of course to some the message failed to register. Others appreciated his achievements and laurels, but do ordinary Filipinos experience these achievements and reforms in the Aquino administration? What are the true state of the country’s economy and the lives of the poor in the first year of PNoy? Where would his “tuwid na daan" lead the nation?