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               Do you sometimes wish that life would just stop? I’ve always dreamed of owning a magical remote control that can start and stop the flow of time, like that guy in the movie “Click.” 

              Maybe it’s just me, but high school seems to be speeding by like a blur. It seems like just last week when I was a little freshman stepping onto the high school campus for the first time. Now, senior year is more than half over and college applications are looming overhead, descending ever faster to bury me in a pile of essays and interviews (scary!). 

              Sometimes, I feel like I’m living in one of those movie scenes where the sun continually sets and rises at an exorbitant speed. With projects, tests and homework being constantly thrown at me, it’s hard to not feel overwhelmed at times (okay, all the time). Every night, when I slip beneath the cozy blankets, I wish that I could just sleep forever and never wake up. At times like these, I have to remind myself to relax, take a step back from the speeding pace of life and have fun. It’s perfectly okay to spend a day doing absolutely nothing (I’m saving these days for after that final A.P.U.S.H. outline). 

             What I’m trying to say is, don’t get so caught up in the worries and stresses of school that you miss out on the little things in life. Go to the movies with your friends, play Monopoly with your family, plan a romantic picnic with your boyfriend or girlfriend and bake cookies for your siblings (or just make fun of them, like me). 

               High school only lasts 4 years, which may seem like a long time right now, but will race by in the blink of an eye. So, make the most of it. Create memories that you will remember twenty years from now. Take lots of pictures. Maybe even catch a sports game. Keep your goals in sight and remember why you are doing all that you are doing. I guarantee you, college will be so much fun.

MY DREAM: MY FUTURE

            For as long as we have known we have been writing numerous essays on "My ambition in life" since childhood.. and funnily enough, our ''ambition'' changed in each essay. Earlier in the essays my ambition used to be to become a teacher, then it changed to a doctor, then an engineer and then a software engineer. But did I really know what I wanted in life??

          It takes a great deal of time and experience to realize what we want from life. Often people have misconceptions about the ambition they choose.. Many go with what their parents want them to become, others go with what everyone else is doing..and some choose their ambition based on whether their ambition will make them ''successful'' or not.. But we do not realize that in thinking like this we all are mistaken..

         As a normal person, i'm also have my own ambition. My ambition is to become an engineer. It is not just an ambition but i want it to become a reality to my life. It is true that years of hard work are required to become an engineer, but after of three years of college studying engineering, you can make good money. In fact, engineering is one of the few fields that let you earn good pay after only three years. Right now, three years might sound like a long time, but it's worth it. Consider it one of the best investment you can make. Besides, it's not all about the money. It is also an interesting work.

CHANGE STARTS WITH ME

         Change is like a tornado: it comes without warning and can turn your house upside down or let it down safely. Either way, nothing will ever be the same. A lot of people believe that tornado is a synonym for change. Gandhi once said “be the change you want to see in the world”. To me this means you have to take responsibility for what you want to accomplish.

        Taking responsibility for your actions is important in becoming a change in the world. In order to make a change, you have to want to do it. If one of your friends dared you to go help a grandma cross the street, you need to want to do it, not do it because your friend dared you. Be responsibly if you decided to make a change in the world. Responsibility comes from within. So take responsibility seriously. Another good example of being the change in the world is picking up trash in parks, on the road, on sidewalk and even in sporting event places. To be responsible means to be a source or cause. 

     Not only being responsible, but having good character and a positive attitude will lead you to being the best you can be in order to change the world. You will never accomplish anything if you don’t have the guts to do it. The kids that do drugs and drink alcohol are less likely to be a change in the world. It is us, the people who care, and are willing to do anything to turn the world around and put it back on its feet again. If you’re a human with no good character or good attitude, don’t put things up to the last minute. Being self confident about your beliefs is having good character. Also, be committed to what you want to change.

       A lot of people want the world to be an improved place, and in order to accomplish that goal, they need to believe they can do it. To be the change you want to see in the world means to be responsible for your actions. So let’s make a change today, even if we do it one by one, we can all make a different because life’s short, so let’s make it better by living in it and trying to change it. You don’t have to be some famous leader to make a change. Just take one step at a time. Try making a change every day, even if it’s not a huge one. The small deeds will build up to something immense over time.

KANNAWIDAN

          Ilocos Sur, our very own province has rich and stunning cultures and traditions that we Ilocanos must be proud of. In order to showcase these, we have important festives just to exhibit and promote products of ours and precious cultures of Ilocanos to attract and invite tourists to come and visit Ilocos. One of these is the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival which is a week-long festive of happiness for local and foreign tourists as more entertaining events are included in the celebration.                 Now on its 5th year, the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival had already established its identity as the prime festival of the province. The festival was launched in 2008 under the leadership of then Governor Deogracias Victor B. Savellano to commemorate the 190th foundation day of Ilocos Sur as separate province through the approval of a Spanish Royal Decree on February 2, 1818. The province has a rich heritage and unique cultures that need to be preserved for the next generations. However, many of these traditions, songs, dances and other Ilocano cultures were not already familiar to the younger generations due to the influence of the television, computer and internet. Highlights include the members of the Bayanihan Dance Company entertained the Ilocanos with their world class performance of the Beauty of the Philippines through dances, music and sounds. Their graceful movements and excellent rendition of songs and playing the indigenous musical instruments drew attractions from the crowd. Governor Luis Chait Singson and Vice Governor Savellano together with the officials of the Department of Education Division of Ilocos Sur signified the start of the different contests for elementary and high school students. These include traditional tribal rituals, choir and glee club competition, marching band contest, traditional music ensemble, dance drama, traditional and folk dances, contemporary dance competition and street dancing showdown. These events aimed to encourage young Ilocanos to learn these indigenous songs and dances for sustainability and preservation. Another important event is the Partuat ken Patanor Trade and Agri Fair. Officials from the trade and agri fair displayed all products from the different towns of the Ilocos Sur and its nearby provinces. The annual “Pinaka Contest” was also held to give citations the local farmers’ extraordinary farm and fishery products and livestock. This Kannawidan Ylocos Festival aims to create awareness on the preservation of the province’ rich cultural heritage, practices and traditions, and a showcase of the different agriculture and industry products. 

        We, Ilocanos should all be proud of with this because we are having this for tourists to appreciate our rich culture. Moreover, let us all preserve these cultures for next generations and this will serve as our trademark as an Ilocano.

Quarter 3 of 4

               2014 has already ended. And the third grading period did too. These means, the next chapter will now be our final battle as a high school student. So we must give the best of us.
               My third quarter life was not that easy. There are so many tags to be memorized. Second is that, i was too lazy to do my blogs. so i have to hurry up. I ended up by cramming all those requirements that must be done for this grading period.
               But still, I tried my very best to catch up. After the New Year break, classes will resume already so I need to review in order to get high scores on my exams. I just hope so.
I’m looking forward for better memories for the Fourth Quarter being a senior student.

New Year Beliefs and Practices

             Aside from lighting firecrackers and having firework displays, Filipinos have other beliefs and practices which are associated and believed to bring good luck, fortune, and prosperity in the New Year.The noise and the firecrackers is believe to drive the evil spirit away and make the New Year bountiful and blessed.You should put coins/money in your pocket so that next year will be prosperous.You should open all the windows, doors lights so that all the graces will come to your home as you welcome the New Year.Some believe that you have to wear polka dots shirts or dress because it symbolizes money, and it must have a deep pocket and filled with money bills and coins and jingled it at the stroke of midnight for good luck.Some people pay off their debts in the hope that they will not be saddled with debt throughout the year.

         The countdown of New Year varies from family to family or from region to region. At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes deafening, churchbells rings, firecrackers rules the sky, kids gaping in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky. The banging and booming rise to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricycle horns, ambulance sirens for full one minute as the countdown to New Year.

           It is also a favorite thing to do with children, is to jump twelve times so they will get taller next year the higher you jump the taller you grow. The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are not only meant to celebrate the coming of the New Year but are also supposed to drive away bad spirits.

The Birth

           Christmas is the greatest festival of Christians. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm like other festivals of different communities through­out the world.It comes on 25th of December every year. It is the date when Jesus Christ was born. It is like Krishna Janmashtami of the Hin­dus.

         Great preparations are made. All houses and churches are white washed. They are decorated with buntings, flowers and pictures, the shops are also decorated in a beautiful way. Rich and poor, all enjoy the festival.The Christians plant a Christmas tree on this day. They cut the branch of a tree and plant it in a corner of the house.Then they deco­rate this tree with lamps and toys and flowers. At night, it looks very beautiful. All the members of the house sit together and sing prayers in praise of Lord Jesus. Guests and friends also join them.Christmas gifts are presented to them. Christmas greetings and beautiful Christ­mas cards are sent to friends and relatives on this occasion.Then the people hold a feast. It consists of the finest things that the Christian family can afford. 

            It makes the people remember Lord Jesus who is thought by them to be the son of God. God sent him to save the people from sin and misery.He saved them and died on the cross for them. All those who have faith in him shall be saved. Thus this festival teaches them and their children to live a noble life of prayer, love and sacrifice.