August 5 in the previous year, at 9 pm, I with my boyfriend and his cousin was raced by the road patrol along General Luna. it was a chilly night we were casually lodging at my boyfriend’s auntie’s house when his cousin from England craved for grilled intestine or Isaw. So we stopped our stories and jump in a motorcycle and drove to Plaza to buy her isaw, a famous filipino street food. No longer than 3 minutes when we reached the highway, i felt my body being pulled forward because of the sudden break. before i had the chance to ask my boyfriend what was happening, he already sped away with 80 on his motor. I held tight onto his cousin’s arms, i fear that i will fall on the asphalt but i had the nerve to shout in boisterous laughter with them. I turned my head back and saw the patrol motioning us to stop for an inspection. I dared not look again, and came up of alternative routes to outrun their mobile incase they will really chase us. When we reached home, with a bag of isaw, we started laughing like crazies but not one of us talked about it again to our parents. we kept it a secret or else no one would be allowed to leave the house again.
by: Jelyan Nadine Romero and Racquel Christine Abon (REPORTAGE)
Government officials particularly the senate approves the National Student Leaders Day that will be celebrated every 16th of November last Tuesday, October 16.
Mrs. Celia L. Sangalang, principal 1 of Sto. Niño Elementary School (SNES) and Dinalupihan East Coordinator of Campus Journalism, announced National Student Leaders Day, under the Senate Bill 756, was proposed by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Sangalang also added that the purpose of the bill is to make the students to become innovative, creative and could expose their talent.
She exclaimed this bill for the youth to be trained as the guardian of Philippine democracy.
Sangalang also expressed her explanation through Jose Rizal’s famous quote, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” to justify the youth’s patriotism and nationalism.
She joked about being a leader, that they might even have the position of Sen. Escudero.
National Student Leaders Day was approved together with the bill National Press Campus Freedom Day on the final hearing of the bill.
Am I lucky enough that I got to feel the four seasons when there is only two in the reality I am in? Am I lucky that I got to feel those just because of him?
For the first time, I felt the warmth of someone’s winds hugging me fully. It was one of a kind and the feelings bloomed in to me. Just like how the flowers and leaves of the trees grew in spring. I’ve become used to it. He made me feel new, he made me feel whole. The days we acquired got brighter and lighter. We’re growing, I know that. We’re growing with the help of each other’s warmth. But I know that this will not last. I don’t want this spring to end, I whisper to myself.
I thought spring was our greatest season above all. Until he made me discover what’s summer is all about. The days I’ve spent with him were the longest. The nights without his touch were the shortest. The winds were warmer compared to last time, so we were too. We swam to the beach of unknown, we looked highly to the sun of passion. His eyes and touch were the hottest, I do not know if I’m getting burned or getting numb. I wanna end this summer, I whisper to myself. I can clearly still remember, I’m the one who’s supposed to end it all then I realized he gave me flowers to bloom and all. But he made the first move to change his color, just like how the leaves changed theirs in autumn. He converted to red, to yellow, and to brown. His eyes and touch weren’t that hot anymore. I would try to get it back the way it used to be, but he would turn away his eyes from me. Did he fall already? Did he already fall from the trees we grew way back in spring? I wanna start all over again, I want him to fall again, I whisper to myself. Cold and nauseated. I thought he already gave autumn as the worst. Not until winter came into my bones. He would slap me with the truth that he doesn’t want to feel any warmth anymore. His snow and coldness covered the trees and flowers we grew together. But it wasn’t a white one, it was the color of blood. Blood made of pride, anger, and hurt.
I want to forget it all, I don’t want these four seasons anymore, I whisper to myself.
by: Jemina-Elie Koike and Cristine Adato (BIOGRAPHY)
Justin Bieber’s Believe Official Trailer #2 (2013)
Justin Drew Bieber was born on March 1, 1994 at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. His parent’s name are Pattie Mallette and Jeremy Bieber. He has two younger half-siblings on his father, they are Jazmyn and Jaxon.
As he grows, he started to have interest on playing different instruments including drums, piano, guitar and trumpet. He started doing videos on musically as a hobby and then his mother uploaded it in the internet (YouTube) and little by little, he started to gain followers, that was the time when Justin Bieber caught the attention of his talent manager, Scooter Braun. Because of the talent Justin Bieber have shown to Scooter Braun, Braun immediately secured a spot to have an impromptu audition with Usher Raymond who was impressed to him and he helped Justin Bieber to sign a record deal. He got his first single “One Time” in 2009 and it was a worldwide hit and it was certified Platinum in Canada and United States. It was followed by his debut album called “My World” which is also an international success. Justin Bieber is the first artist to have seven songs from his debut record chart on Billboard Hot 100. He released his first full-length album, “My World 2.0” in 2010. A year after, his successful concert film “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” was released. In 2012, he released his third studio album called “Believe” and “Purpose” as his fourth studio album in the year 2015. He has won so many awards including the Grammy Award and American Music Award. He has been listed numerous times among the “Top 10 Most Powerful Celebrities in the World” by Forbes magazine. He has sold an estimated 140 million records, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artist.
January 12 in 2001, a baby girl was born and named Samantha. Samantha means femininity but my personality is far from being feminine.
I grew up with loving parents and 2 annoying brothers in an average sized home. We filled the house with laughter even with their hectic schedule. Instead of dolls and other girly toys, I enjoy to wrestle with my father. Imitating John Cena’s signature flex in WWE and ‘s jump from the side of the ring with his unwearied smug face. I know from the start that I don’t act as a feminine like my cousins. I hate dresses and dressing up, I prefer pants though it’s harder to wear. I always argue with my mother in what clothes to wear for Sunday service, she tells me girls should wear dresses at all time. Yes, it’s cute, but those stupid dresses stop me from running around.
Even at school, I have more guy friends
than friends that are girls. I prefer their rowdy behavior than the girl’s prim
personality. We had an exam that has an instruction to color the boy with a
blue and the girl with a pink. I went for yellow and giddily stroked the paper
with my favorite color. I colored the hair, girl’s clothes It didn’t matter
when I was a kid but now, I feel the severity of my mistake. At 6 years old,
little Samantha defied gender norms.
Hanggang dito na lamang Ang iyong mga luha Tama na Tahan na
Hihilumin Ang iyong mga sugat Pighati’y Wakas na
Mga himig na inilaan sa’yo Kunin at ibaon sa puso mo Bagong araw ay paparating Hintayin ang pagkakataon
Nandito lang ako Umaakay sa’yo Nandito lang ako Naghihintay sa’yo
I’m not a stranger to breaking down in silent tears. The song “tahanan” conversed to me like a friend enveloping me in an embrace, crushing all that’s burdening my soul. For days, I played it on repeat after realizing this is the song I needed.
“Tahan na.”
In March 15, 2018, Munimuni, a local indie band, released a song entitled “Tahanan”. A wordplay of “Tahanan” meaning home in Tagalog and “tahan na” meaning to stop crying. It is an offering of the writer John Owen Castro for the empty and struggling in the month of Mental Health Awareness. Laying down a song that would tell someone the words he’d want to hear from somebody in time of darkness. “Tahanan” is not the concrete structure to sleep and bathe but someone to find solace after hours of distress. Someone who keeps you above the water and prevents you from drowning in sadness. Someone who puts you at ease amidst of the noise that steal the life out of your eyes. Lastly someone who will wipe your damped cheeks then tell you “I’m here, hold onto me”. A hug would erase all the pain and suffering, like a shield sparing you from words that cut. The tear in your eyes blinds you from the sunshine in front of you so dry your tears in the arms of someone you trust. In the presence of your home you will heal. Circumstances will get better maybe not now but soon.
“Hanggang dito na lamang, Ang iyong mga luha”
“Hanggang dito na lamang, Ang iyong mga luha” As these lines began, it conveyed the emotion of patting someone in their back, saying that it is okay to cry but there shouldn’t be no more tears to drop because every thing will slowly heal in time. It was as soon followed by the words, “Tama na, Tahan na” expressing that there would always be someone for you to walk with you in life and to wipe your tears and hurt. The slow melody matches the cold yet soothing voice of the lead singer of the band, Adj Jiao. The lyrics are made up of simple and poetic words yet delivered a deep meaning and feeling to it. Like, wanting to paint in colors that do not exist, love someone that do not exists, miss someone that do not exists.
“Nandito lang ako”
“Tahanan”, the song itself feels like home. The words were very simple and can easily perceived the intended meaning. It will surely put a deep mark in everyone’s heart specially for those who are lost and trying to seek for someone who will let them understand that there’s someone who will let you feel like home even though you cannot see yourself as one. It’s very encouraging and meaningful. A song that will comfort you and will bring you out from the world that is suffocating you. It is like watching yourself cry in front of the mirror with a blurred vision, filled with sadness, but you can also see someone wiping your tears for you to be able to see yourself again and will tell you the phrase“I am here”, three words but can mean a world for someone. It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be sad, just remember that you are not alone in the mirror of your own. Someone or something will always help you to see yourself clear again.
HAPPY THINGS 