BSA-1D Magazine

Trixie

ACADEMIC
PRESSURE ON
YOUNG ADULTS

BY: TRIXIE V. DE GUZMAN

The pressure on young adults' mental health, like mine, to perform
well academically by achieving good or high grades, which is a
prerequisite for success in our profession or career, has a significant
adverse impact. Academic pressure may come from our ambitious
personal goals, and high expectations from our families, and our society.
These factors could either empower us to perform better or cause
depression, sleeping problems, and anxiety disorders. Academic
pressure typically affects us negatively when we feel overwhelmed by the
demands that our course has on our time and energy in order to meet
certain educational objectives. The consequences of academic pressure
depend on how a person responds to it or perceives it. We all cope with
pressure or stress in our own distinct ways; for some, it serves as
encouragement to excel at school while for others, it compromises their
physical and mental well-being. To get excellent academic outcomes,
some of us are under undue pressure to meet or exceed the academic
standard in our educational system. Ironically, though, this unwittingly
has an adverse influence on our academic performance as it might affect
our well-being, which could lead to poor academic performance and even
academic stress. In certain instances, academic pressure motivates
students to do better academically and boosts their levels of productivity
since they are more driven to produce excellent results. Nonetheless,
from my own experience, academic pressure frequently leads to an
obsession with doing well in class to the extent we begin to doubt our
capacities and proficiency. I was under a lot of academic pressure, from
my family and myself, which made me overthink and feel anxious about
my grades as I was frightened of being disappointed. Due to persistent
concern about how my activities and examinations would turn out, I found
it difficult to concentrate when studying, which led me to procrastinate
and have low self-esteem. Although academic pressure is meant to
encourage us, students, to do well in class, it instead burdens us with
high expectations for our academic success.

Laica

A’TIN
BY HEART &

SOUL

BY: LAICA C. LACANILAO

Everyone is a fan of at least one thing. It might be a k-drama, a k-pop artist, a
celebrity, a sportsperson, a singer, a YouTuber, and many more. And as for me, I love
the Philippine pop group, SB19.


I t w a s d u r i n g t h e p a n d e m i c t h a t I s t a r t e d t o r e c o g n i z e S B 1 9 . I d i d n o t p a y t o o m u c h

attention to them the first time I saw them perform on ASAP. Until months passed, and
my sister began to play their songs constantly. I started searching for them on the
internet, watching their vlogs, following all their social media accounts to stay up to
speed, and until their music eventually became my go-to soothing music.

A'tin is the official fandom name of SB19. It is a lot of fun to be an A'tin. I was not
only fortunate in locating an excellent P-pop group, but I also was able to find an
internet friend with whom I can discuss our shared passion for the group, including our
thoughts, emotions, and chikas.

Not only do I adore SB19 for their beauty and the music that they produce, but also
for their personality and the message that they convey, all of which captivate and
encourage me. SB19 holds a very unique place in my heart; they are the bright spot in
my otherwise dark days throughout the pandemic. There are situations that cause me to
lose my temper but I am grateful to them because they are the ones who cheer me up and
relieve some of the pressure I have been under. Simply relaxing myself by watching their
videos and listening to their music was enough to put me at peace. They motivated me to
do well in school. And when I was a student in the last year of high school, some of the
answers I provided for the activities were connected to them. And I think all of my grade
12 classmates knew that I am a fan of SB19 because all they can see on my feed are
shared posts about them, and sometimes I am broadcasting to the whole class that I am
a fan of SB19.

I am not the kind of fan who gets involved in fan wars; instead, I prefer to keep my
mouth shut and watch them from the shadows. However, it still irritates me to see others
criticizing the artists I look up to. It is possible that some people will dislike them and
make a big deal out of them, but that will not convince me to join the levels of those who
dislike them.

I cannot afford to buy their merchandise, and even to buy tickets for every of their
concert events, but that does not indicate that I am not a fan of the artist because I am
aware that I am an incredibly proud A’tin. They are one of the reasons why I want to get
rich so that I can afford to see them perform live. Nevertheless, I have high hopes that I
will soon be able to get a better look at them, not only on the display of my mobile
device, but also in real life.

Irish

A PART OF
ME

BY: IRISH JOY C. SANORIA

What is your music? Have you ever tried to make one?
Does music bring you into a picture of an imagination? Have
you ever had a hard time explaining your feelings to
yourself, but music helped you to unriddle them? Does it help
you sleep? Or is it the one that keeps you up at night? They
say that a world without music is a woebegone one. Well, for
me, that is one of the truest. The melody, rhythm, dynamics,
and harmony, is what completes my life.

Ever since the day I was born, they say that I already
make music using my tiny mouth and step along the beat with
my little legs. A day would not pass without me listening,
singing, or dancing to it. That is why I grew up passionate
and inclined about it. I use it as my enlightenment. I use it to
entertain and bring joy. I sometimes use it to earn money.
And among all of the things where I use my music, my all-
time favorite to do with it is to worship God through
canticles. To be a musician is one of my dreams, even
though others say that it is just a shallow ambition. Well,
opinions like this are not significant. Even Albert Einstein
dreamed of being a musician once, so why would not I? It is
just sad to know that there are still some people who do not
value the idea of music.

Plato once said that music gives a soul to the universe,
wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to
everything. And as for me, it is my best friend, my escape,
and a part of me. Let us embrace our music with either the
abilities that He gifted us. Create your own world with music.

Kurt

A PHOENIX:
SURVIVING A
CATASTROPHE

BY: FRANZ KURT A. REYES

He once wanted to be a pilot when he was a child. He also
dreamed of becoming an artist and desired to be an architect but
look at him now, embarking on the journey of accountancy that he
never thought of achieving before and now hoping to obtain that
Certified Public Accountant title in 5 years, and this will be the
beginning of his incredible journey.

As Kurt starts to discover his passion over the years, it has not
been an easy journey for him as he has gone through multiple
doubts about himself and other people. He once believed that he
could not achieve desirable dreams due to the judgment of his
surroundings. Just like the story of many, he almost got beaten by
the ashes of judgments and was not far from giving up.

As luck would have it, he now figures out his purpose, realizes
how believing in yourself will set you in the right places, and now
courageously faces the upcoming catastrophe in his life. With the
support of those people who are genuinely supporting him from
the start of his race, he will never be scared again to take a risk
and will choose to rise confidently for the sake of his dreams and
family.

With his prior experiences, he will not allow himself to be eaten
by his fears, and he will never allow those external noises again
to distort his life and dictate his decisions. Because just like a
phoenix, he rises from the ashes of failure to vanquish the
negative side of the world.

Jaea

CARPE DIEM

(SEIZE THE DAY)

BY: ALTHEA JAMAICA A. MANAHAN

Existing and living are two different things. Most of us tend to
forget the real meaning of these two, and some are completely
clueless about how they vary. How do we know if we are living our
lives and not just merely existing? Simple. We are living if we decide
to exist with a purpose. Existing is an unending cycle of breathing and
surviving each day without the presence of will and joy. While living is
waking up and choosing to make every moment worth it.

I have been here, in this world, for eighteen years; there are times
when I feel like I am just existing. From empty thoughts and doing
nothing to overthinking things and letting sadness takes away the last
grain of my sanity. "Is the world such a bad thing, or am I the one that
is just lacking?" I realized that we are bound to feel like this at some
point in our lives. Perhaps we can think of this as one of our bad days;
therefore, having this kind of day is normal. But we should always
make sure to be back on our track. LIVE LIFE. DEAL WITH IT. BE
WITH IT.

As I grew up, I realized that I held back a lot. More things remain
unknown to me since I refused to get out of my comfort zone, thinking
that I have more time to know them. But the truth is I am actually
running out of time. So I changed my perspective. I learned that in
order to regret nothing in our lives, we should make the most out of it.
That is when I first heard the phrase “carpe diem”, which means "seize
the day."

For you that is currently reading this, I hope you fall in love with
life and choose to live it. Life is full of uncertainties, and that is what
it makes more thrilling so come what may. Whether it will bring
happiness or sadness, Let it come in any way, on any day.
Make your existence an extraordinary story.CARPE DIEM!

Francois

CONFESSIONS

OF AN


OVERTHINKER
BY: ALLYSSA FRANCOIS I. SANTOS

Making the decision to choose one word to describe myself is actually difficult, but the one word that
could illustrate me is "overthinker," just as I am currently overthinking my word choices for this memoir.
What exactly does "overthinking" mean? That means I have spent far too many hours, far too frequently,
and far too long thinking about everything—about anything. My overthinking thoughts vary from whether I
wore the right shirt to school to my never-ending list of "what ifs" in life. What if dinosaurs existed
today? What if I have superhuman abilities? What if none of this is worth it? Did I make a good first
impression? Was I correct in my career choice? What if I had acted differently?

Everything happens for a reason, they say. But, as I lie in bed at one in the morning, exhausted from
life and even more exhausted from thinking about it, I can not help but wonder when we will find said
reasons, because I have a lot of questions. Nonetheless, I still end up falling asleep, and when I wake
up with clearer morning thoughts, I realize that, while there is not a quick fix to stop dwelling on things
we frequently have no control over, there are undoubtedly ways in which this unfortunate habit can be
gradually conquered.
So if you’re an overthinker (like me), here are some things I do that you can also try to help you get out

of your own head, and invest energy on things that truly matter:

1. WRITE IT DOWN 3. IMMERSE IN NATURE
Overthinking thoughts can be channeled into creative writing, I relax into nature's embrace and let its fierce beauty take over me
which is a great way to unwind and practice awareness and to give my tired, troubled mind a rest and a break from the
mindfulness. I think about what is going on in my head, then I stresses of life. I sometimes put my phone away and simply gaze
journal to try to get it out. out my window at a natural scene. I also visit parks and gardens
as part of my "ecotherapy."

2. LISTEN TO MUSIC 4. USE POSITIVE DISTRACTIONS
Music has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety, and it is It's also beneficial to have a way to divert your attention with
commonly used in therapy to reduce stress and instill a sense of happy, positive, and healthy options. Exercising, playing
calm in listeners. Music is one of my coping mechanisms for badminton, learning an instrument, diamond painting, and drawing
overthinking because it allows me to drown out the noise in my helps me distance myself from negative thoughts long enough to
head with the noise of the songs. With this, I am less likely to stop overthinking.
be confined by the thoughts that have been bothering and 5. JUST GO WITH THE FLOW AND FOCUS ON WHAT YOU
wearing me down and more likely to dance to the beat and sing CAN CONTROL
along with the lyrics of the song. On that note, try listening to We can never foretell how our lives will unfold. Therefore, even
New Romantics by Taylor Swift, Trigger the Fever by NCT though we hope for particular results, we are afraid that something
Dream, ASAP by STAYC, Electric Love by BØRNS, or search for negative might occur. Because as a matter of fact, we have little
Joe Hisaishi and listen to Studio Ghibli tracks on Spotify to to no control over how life unravels. We may either accept
make your day 5x better. everything as it is, surrender, and let go of our fears, or we can
choose to worry and stress ourselves instead. Surrendering does
not signify defeat; rather, it just entails being willing to flow with
the tide rather than attempting to go against it and crashing into
the rocks.

So, there is my confession list.
In summary, overthinking is a real problem. It plunges you into a whirlpool of thoughts and scenarios
from which you cannot flee. I am still trying to find the best ways to accept and escape. But I have
discovered that I can control all of this by channeling my thoughts into my passions— writing, listening
to music, and meditating. Because, truth be told, sometimes the best thing to do is to not think and just
do.

Dear reader,
Break the cycle. Take the next baby step. Less thinking. More doing.

Jana

COURTSHIP REALLY
MATTERS

BY: YANNA DENISE L. SIENA

How does it feel to be courted by someone? Is it happy? Does it make u nervous? Make your
stomach have butterflies? How should you act?

Over the past few years, many developments and improvements have happened to us. Due also
to technology modernization, it changes how we live. It affects all aspects of our life and makes
our jobs and work more convenient. It also changes how we people act. As well as the cultures
and traditions we had from our ancestors. And one of these is the idea of courtship.

Before, I could not deny that the idea of courtship was amazing. Some of this was because the
man needed to give the treasures or money more than the woman's family had. How great, right?
Give up all your treasures just to get the one you love. Another is singing in front of the woman's
house or what we call "Harana." Giving a picked bouquet or even helping her family to cut wood
and lift water when she's washing clothes. These are just some of the things that a man does
before when it comes to courtship.

Due to modern society, a lot of changes happen that affect our daily lives. Technology
modernization continuously develops over the past few years, and this change also changes the
way we live. Smartphones and mobile phones, as well as websites and apps, improve to help
people communicate with each other easily. This also became a way to build a relationship with
someone. It connects them to share and know each other through chatting or calling until they
become official.

Do these things not make us women lower our standards too much? I mean, do you all not want
to receive some effort and act of service from them? To receive a bouquet of flowers or to be
sung with your favorite song?

As a woman, I also want to experience such acts of service and efforts from them, not just only
from chatting with them. Though I know that we are not like just before, there are things they
might do to show their love for us, not just their words on our phones. Giving you gifts, watching
cinema and eating together, singing a song for you, and introducing you to his family, are just
some.

But I just came up with a realization. It is not vital to expect from them. Yes, it is fantastic to
receive such things from them. However, it is about him, not what he can give. The assurance
that he offers, the consistency he holds, the loyalty he has, and the sureness that he will stay
beside you, no matter what happens, really matters. How beautiful it is to receive more than
those material things. Having him through ups and downs until both of you reach your goals and
dreams for each other is amazing. Love encompasses a lot of things. It is a verb and is in
constant motion. It is the feeling that you completely and utterly love someone and everything
about them. A passionate bond connects you as a couple that wants the best for the other person
regardless of what that means for them. It is the foundation for a healthy, loving relationship.
True love is authentic and genuine. It has significant meaning in your relationship though flaws
and all. And it is the actual definition of courtship. Courtship matters.

Anne

ENTRANCED BY
THE RICHNESS OF

OUR WORLD

BY: ANNE LYN A. CONEJAR

There are many stunning places in this world. Every nation has unique regions with
special features. Many locations are renowned for their architectural marvels, while
others are known for their breathtaking views. The desire to travel varies from person
to person. Some people are drawn to locations with picturesque views, while others
favor dropping into sites with historical significance.

I became interested in and convinced to travel to attractive destinations after
seeing them in pictures and videos. I thought of having the same fun after seeing how
lovely the environments were and how many people enjoyed visiting them. I want to
take a trip to the most magical spots I have heard of and witness them myself. The
northern lights are one of the most spectacular sights that caught my attention. I
ceaselessly dreamed of visiting Iceland to see the enchanted beauty created by the
mesmerizing floating waves of light, since staring up at the night sky brings me
comfort and tranquility. My next travel goal is to explore the Maldives, which is
recognized for its pristine beaches. The bioluminescent beach on Vaadhoo Island is
something I am intrigued to see. I want to know how this glowing beach produces a
blue light that looks like a mythical island that corresponds to a chemical process
involving bioluminescent plankton.

In addition to being enthralled by the spectacular regions I mentioned, I hope to
visit well-known tourist attractions in other nations when there is a chance later on.
The other top five places on my list include Paris, New York, London, Sydney, and
Bali. Along with doing it for enjoyment, I want to explore and try the various cuisines
that each locality has to offer to complement my travel experience. I assume that
traveling to new places will help me develop a broader perspective. By being exposed
to new places, people, and traditions, I will be able to view the world more
comprehensively.

One day, I hope to explore the natural beauty that surrounds us, taking
advantage of the chance to go outside of my usual comfort zone. Making lasting
experiences is my main goal when planning to travel, which is why I want to do it with
the special people in my life. I want to spend time having fun with them, developing
close relationships, and creating lifelong memories. Growing up, I realized that we
only have one life to live. That being the case, we should choose to spend our life to
the fullest. It will cause us to feel the happiest and most satisfied.

Menggay

FAILURE AS
LIGHT IN A DARK

PATH

BY: RENCEL MAE DJ. MARCELO



The thing that individuals are probably afraid of in life is failure. Although
everyone experiences it, reality slaps us that we can't avoid it because it is a
necessary aspect of our journey. Some people, especially those pursuing their
dream careers, fear failing. Failure anxiety can paralyze us, causing us to do
nothing or take a course of action that we would not normally do. People's fear
of failure stems from various factors, such as personal or family standards,
financial situations, or worldviews. We often have lots of "what ifs" running
through our heads that can prevent us from taking any action and would lead us
down to the path we want to take in life. Failure can sabotage our ability to
progress or explore because of this. I can attest from my personal experience
that my fear of failure tends to be extremely high since I'm the eldest child in
our family.

Even though they do not give me reasons to be pressured, I tend to set
certain goals for me to obtain high grades, which are some of the reasons why I
feel pressured in terms of my academic performance. I was afraid of failing since
the educational qualifications for my dream course were so uncertain, many have
failed, and this heightened my fear of failing as I don't have an idea whether I
would succeed or fail. There are many good reasons for me to be practical and
forego enrolling in the course my heart aspires in. However, I chose to continue
pursuing it because I wanted to be brave enough and have the courage to face it
and take the risks regardless of whether I'll succeed or not rather than trying to
avert them and fill my mind with countless what if's. We can realize that the
problem does not lie in our fear of going on the wrong path.

We feel anxious about choosing the wrong course of action in life and end
up wasting time. However, If we consider failure from a different perspective, it
becomes clear that it is not our life's antagonist but rather a valuable teacher.
These setbacks can be used to our advantage as inspiration for future
endeavors. We should simply enjoy and embrace all the lessons rather than try
to escape the difficulties in our lives. Some people think that failure is
something to be despised, but in light of this fact, it is essential for success and
achieving goals. Failure is an assessment that can help us become better and
more mature individuals. It shouldn't be used as an excuse to put off living,
instead, we should use it as motivation to succeed more in life by learning from
our mistakes and using them as a springboard for long-term survival.

Elisha

HEALTHY SLEEP
+ K-DRAMA =
STABLE MIND

BY: ELISHA Y. MELENCIO

Have you ever slept later than you had to because of a drama that pursues you to
click the next episode button? Have you ever said, just one more episode, and then
you end up finishing the whole drama through the night? And in the end, drama
prevails over oversleeping. Have you ever tried watching multiple dramas at the same
time? If it checks your list, then this article is for you. On the other hand, there are
ways for you to be a certified fan of dramas, K-Dramas in particular, and at the same
time have a healthy sleeping routine. Thus, this article will help you accomplish the
two efficiently.

As National Sleep Foundation stated, healthy adults must have at least 7 to 9
hours of sleep every night. Babies, young children, and teens need a lot of sleep to
enhance their growth and development. While people over 65 should also get 7 to 8
hours of sleep every night. Going back to our goal, one of the most important pieces of
advice I could give you based on my experience is never to let your body be used to
sleeping very late at night because that will change your body clock from waking up
early in the morning to sleeping the whole day. Hence, if you sleep the entire day, you
would not be productive; that is very unhealthy for your body. The 'day' is the moment
wherein we function to ourselves to achieve our everyday goal, while 'night' is
designated for us to rest and recharge ourselves to be ready for the next day. Once
you have accomplished all your tasks, it will allow you to do your hobby of watching K-
Dramas to relieve your stress.

Again, K-Drama is a hobby of relieving our stress. It should not be an addiction
negatively to the point that it becomes a hindrance to our productivity. There is also a
certain day for us to binge-watch the entire day, weekends. If we do not think we could
watch during weekends due to some homework or house chores, then it is fine.
Remember, it is a hobby, not an addiction. Sometimes we must also learn to discipline
ourselves, no matter how old we are. Learning to prioritize important matters is a good
attitude. As I was also fond of watching K-Dramas, I simply wanted to share how I
balance my time between my tasks and my hobby. There are times that I lose my
opportunity to watch K-Dramas for the whole week because of how busy I am preparing
for my exams and other things. Hence, I told myself that after all those exams,
projects, quizzes, and some other stuff. I will finally be able to binge-watch the whole
day as a reward for myself.

K-Dramas are indeed captivating and appealing, especially to us, Gen Z, and other
millennials. Sometimes, it would make you lose count of the time as you are
overwhelmed by the climax of the story. It is also one of the things that help the
majority rise from anxiety and depression, especially in the middle of the isolation
period during the pandemic. To conclude, having a healthy sleeping routine plus being
able to watch K-Dramas in our leisure time is equal to a stable condition of the mind.

Ella
HOW K-POP
INSPIRES FANS
TO LIVE A
BEAUTIFUL LIFE
BY: MARINELA D. SARMIENTO

K-pop is not just about the music, it’s the life-changing influence artists have on their fans. In
today’s world, K-pop is soaring in popularity, attracting fans from different races and different
countries. Through legendary music, remarkable fashion style, and undeniable charms. K-pop artists
paved the way to reach fans’ hearts. Korean pop music has become one of South Korea’s main keys for
cultural and economic growth since 1997. Garnering millions of support and love across the world, they
become a great phenomenon. For many, K-pop is just about visuals and beauty, but alongside it is the
unique approach of music that relates with fans, a genuine bond. Ironically, K-Pop idols who are oceans
apart have been a great family and sort of best buddies that create a tight knot around fans’ hearts. But
what makes K-pop artists so much more than idols?
"They encourage you to be confident and to love yourself .“No matter what, believe in yourself and love
yourself.” – Jeong Jaehyun of NCT

Idols will never make you forget how beautiful you are. Every time they have the chance to say that
you are pretty, they will. Even if they are thousands of miles away from us, the warmth of their kind
words always reaches the peak of our hearts. They will teach you how to love yourself and be confident
in your capabilities. Fans who are going through hard times can get a lot of encouragement from their
idols who also face struggles. By simply watching them, slowly, the art of how they deal with life can be
adapted and applied to our daily lives. The music they produced also creates an illusion of a friend who
understands you. From heartfelt lyrics to inspirational ones, Korean pop music is a compact life lesson
in the form of songs that automatically gives us the feeling of being understood. It’s easy to feel
exhausted and alone, especially in these tough times. But amazingly with K-pop, you can get comfort
and happiness from the people you never expect.
“When you have a hard time, I hope that you can really feel that I’m cheering for you. I’m cheering you
on! I’m cheering for you.” Kim Sunwoo of The Boyz

Life is a hard-core challenge itself, but unexplainable strength and inspiration can be found in idols’
sincere words. Whenever we think that no one believes in us, they will prove us wrong and that’s
beautiful. From the moments of scary thoughts that we can’t make it, we are far from surviving, we have
nothing but ourselves, these loving people always have something ready for us to keep us going every
time. A comrade through hearts, it’s a blessing.
They teach you to pursue your utmost dreams

Dreaming is easy, but pursuing it is not easy. Countless barriers will come your way, but idols can
motivate you to thrive. "Your efforts will never betray you. All your efforts will pay off." Lee Taeyong of
NCT. It can never be denied that there will be times when we lose the guts to continue our plans to
succeed. It feels like being stuck in a dark room, with no sight of colors, pitch black. It is tiring, and we
want to give up, but for many fans, statements like this from Taeyong changed their lives and
perspectives. K-pop, especially K-pop idols, has been a source of inspiration and motivation for fans to
study and work the hardest and be the best version of themselves. Fans can always pick up a few
pointers from these idols, knowing that they also went through a lot in their journey to become artists.
Just looking at them makes fans the happiest. Having them as our thousand-miles-away friends
convinces us that life is happy. It will not always be perfect, but a life well spent.

The bond between K-pop idols and fans may only be understood by some. The reasons above can
only be felt by people who chose to dedicate their time and energy to support these amazing artists, a
decision that beautifully changed our lives.

Hermie

LAKBAY

BY: HERMIE EMMANUEL DC. NICOLAS



Narito sa mundo na walang kasiguraduhan kung ano kahihinatnan, hindi alam
kung sino ang totoong kaibigan at kung sino ang malalapitan sa pangangailangan.
Nagsisimula na maranasan ang totoong laban ng buhay, gumigising nang maaga
upang maglakbay patungo sa unibersidad na pinapasukan. Pero bago ang lahat,
balikan muna natin ang ibang parte sa paglalakbay na ito.

Noong elementarya ay naglalaro kasama ang mga kamag-aral na walang iniisip
sa buhay at hindi napapansin na lumilipas ang panahon. Pagtungtong ng highschool
ay unti-unti nang nararasan ang ibang pagbabago, mas dumarami na ang gawain at
hindi na nakapaglalaro. Ang ibang mga kamag-aral ay nalipat ng seksyon at lumipat
ng eskwelahan. Nagkakaroon na ng iba't ibang grupo ang dating mga magkakaibigan
at nasama sa grupo na nagmula sa ibat ibang eskwelahan.

Lumipas ang apat na taon nang napakabilis at tila hindi ito naramdaman sa rami
ng mga masasaya at malulungkot na nangyari. Habang nasa huling mga buwan ng
paglalakbay bilang isang studyante sa baitang 10 ay nagkaroon ng hindi inaasahang
pangyayari, isang pandemya. Hindi alam na ang araw na iyon ay ang huling
pagkikita nila ng mga kamag-aral. Maraming nangyari noong unang mga buwan ng
pandemya, bawal lumabas, kung kaya ay nawalan ng hanap-buhay ang mga
magulang. Hindi alam kung paano pagkakasyahin ang konting naipon dahil hindi
alam kung hanggang kailan tatagal ng pandemyang nararanasan. Nagkaroon ng
bagong paraan ng pag-aaral kung kaya kahit hindi alam kung makapagbabayad ba
ng matrikula sa eskuwelahan ay nag-enroll pa rin bilang isang mag-aaral ng baitang
11 upang hindi mahinto sa pag-aaral. Sa sipag at diskarte ay nairaos ang dalawang
taon na pag-aaral sa paraang online.

Dumating na ang araw na kailangan na mag-apply para sa admission ng kolehiyo,
sinubukan mag-apply sa dalawang eskwelahan at sa kabutihang palad ay nakapasa.
Ipinasa ang mga kailangan na dokumento at kinakabahan dahil malayo ang
eskwelahan sa bahay ngunit upang matuto ng mga bago ay nilakasan ang loob.
Ngayon ay unti-unti nang bumabalik sa dati, maari nang pumasok sa paaralan ang
mga mag-aaral. Dumating na ang araw na kailangang pumasok at gumising nang
maaga muli upang ihanda ang mga gamit. Kailangan ding maaga umalis upang hindi
mahuli sa klase at hanggang hapon ay nasa eskwelahan at pag-uwi sa bahay ay gabi
na. Kaya siya ay nagtitiyaga upang makapagtapos sa kolehiyo at ngayon siya ay
kasalukuyan pa ring naglalakbay at patuloy na lumalaban sa mga bagong hamon na
dumarating sa buhay.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
- Albert Einstein

Ishan

LIFE

BY: CHRISTIAN MARI G. LALIC

The world may remain constant for decades, centuries, or a
millennium. Compared to that, human life is akin to a dew at
dawn or a bubble rising through the water, transitory. Life
comes and goes, so enjoy the moment. The perfect excuse I
throw at my parents when I am lazy and do not want to go to
school. As all of you got from my previous statements, I like
enjoying the present while still involving a substantial amount
of my time in planning for the future. After all, I also would
very much like to enjoy my future when it eventually becomes
my present. I am not an ambitious person; I do not have lofty
goals or ideals. I simply want to do things I find amusing and
fun. Of course, a lot of people criticized my way of thinking,
especially by those who are very passionate and driven in
pursuing their craft. Everyone has their own perspective in
life, and there is nothing strange about that. Be that as it may,
I think everyone should at least keep in mind that, every
journey has its final day, do not rush. I could not think of any
other topics, so here lies the wisdom I stumbled upon on
YouTube. That is all from me, peace!

Tony

LIFE OF A
FRESHMAN
DURING 2022

BY: ANTHONY L. SALAMANTE

When life gives you lemon, you will not know what to do with it, especially if it is
something new. A fun and adventurous elementary life and a curious high school life could
only be reminiscent of a college student. One blow from a strong wind could extinguish a
bright flame from a candle due to its vulnerability. The light from the candle is a metaphor
for a person, and the wind is the flow of life; our current life could be taken away from us
in just one snap of a finger. College life is a big transition for a freshman because it is an
entirely new experience that requires commitment, flexibility, and brains. The statements
above may seem excessive for something that could not be compared in real life but being
a college student this year is a different story because of the transition. The transition is
more complicated this year because of the pandemic, where senior high school students
have their classes online, thus creating a new environment to adapt to. The college this
year is a 1 step forward and 3 steps back. We will enter a unique learning environment
while going back to traditional learning 2 years ago.

As I was writing this journal, I remembered all the struggles and uncertainties I had to
go through to reach college. A Freshman telling how he felt during his transition in life
could be as exciting as our parents telling us how they met. Beginning of 2022, the
admissions for Bulacan State University and as well as the other State Universities are up,
and it is time to pass our requirements. Communicating, cooperating, printing, and
traveling are some of the things we must go through to get our requirements, not to
mention the pandemic and the ongoing classes. It is tough to manage your time to apply to
a college and at the same time study to graduate senior high school, we are not blessed
with golden spoons thus, we can only rely on state universities. Admissions are
competitive, and only those who are deserving are meant to be, all the hard work in
passing the requirements only to be given a rejection is heartbreaking. A rejection that will
break you because you can not do anything because you can not afford to go to a private
school. Let us not go through being rejected because I got reconsidered at BulSU, it is a
hard and stressful experience. During the admissions, you are given a choice of what you
want to take and thus open different paths in life, I once considered nursing and becoming
a doctor but for practicality, I chose Accountancy.

I am here, studying at my dream University in a course that I chose, I thought that the
hard work is over now but realized that it was only the beginning. Unlike high school, we
will have to keep in mind every detail of our lesson because it will be useful in our future
or dream profession. Be active and study well, things that I am trying to be consistent on
every single day of my college journey. The workload and lessons are much heavier as
compared to high school but I am trying my best to adapt. We are still having classes on
online platforms, and elementary students are having face-to-face classes so why can’t
we? After a month of studying and adapting to the lessons, life will give you a lemon, the
midterm week is now here. Review, travel, exam, travel, review, and sleep, a cycle that
brought great discomfort to my body because I am not used to this. After the examination
week, my body began to become sick, and then it demanded rest. The University gave us a
chance to rest and at the same time gave us a glimpse of how college life is going to treat
us. Transitioning to college is hard because aside from adapting to the lessons, we will
also have to meet and get along with new people. It is good to have a special someone
beside you during these times, you will meet that someone along your way. It may be a
hard experience to go through but looking at the bright side, the college offers a fun and
adventurous path for us that we can enjoy while traveling.

Jade

LOVE IS BOTH A
RISK AND A
CHOICE

BY: JADE LORAINE INDICK

One of the most common and taught topics is that love is hard, that it is
complicated, painful, and implicit heart aches after breakups. And yet, some
people are still together after experiencing heartbreaks.

Love is also a risk that you must be willing to take. There is no love
without risk and loss. Everything in life is both a risk and a challenge, but
opening yourself up to someone can be the most difficult thing. See how
complicated love is and genuinely terrifying, yet, I am glad I took the most
fabulous and real risk of loving someone.

Love is a choice. At the very first, we choose the people we love. We
decide to get through the risk. We chose every single part, both good and
bad. And one of the significant decisions I have made was choosing the
person I am with now. There will be no more incredible feeling in the world
other than being loved and choosing love. Being deeply loved by someone
gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Being in
love changes many things about you. You will be filled with so much joy. You
would find yourself doing things you never thought you could do. And, of
course, you would not stop yourself from being upset with the little things
that your partner did.

Love takes a lot of work. At this age, I have learned that there is no
perfect relationship. It entails pain or being hurt; One significant thing is
overcoming those hardships and embracing each other's flaws and
imperfections. Love can break you into pieces. But, at the end of the day, as
long as you prioritize fixing your relationship, choose to move forward, and
start over, that makes love so special.

After all, we were made to love and be loved, and we can all agree that
love provides the most beautiful and unexplainable feeling in the world. We
choose whom we love. We decide if we take the risk. And I am willing to
choose to love this wonderful person every day of our lives.

Marie

MARIE’S LIFE
AS A STUDENT

BY: MARIE VICTORIA SOTO

Hello readers, I am Marie. But I have three other names: Victoria for my friends
who love to annoy me using my second name, Dada for my family and relatives, and
Ubas or Ubs for my two older cousins.

In this article, I would love to talk with you about my life as a student. During my
elementary years, I was so quiet and shy. I do not have a lot of friends and I only
have one best friend. I am quiet not because I do not have enough knowledge to
impart, it is just I am more comfortable sharing my thoughts through writing. I am shy
not because I am insecure, but because being alone brings so much peace to me.
Because of those two qualities I have, I became an outcast. My classmates do not like
me and they can only see me whenever they need something from me. One time during
our PE class, we had to dance with a partner. My partner does not even want to hold
my hand. So the next day we had our PE class, he chose to be paired with our girl
classmate whose partner is absent. As I was dancing alone, my classmates kept on
laughing at me so I cried. Do you know what is funny? Our teacher told us to stop
dancing and go to our room and she blames me for crying for such a “stupid” reason.
Yes, they blame me for being sensitive and the reason why we had to stop our PE
class at that time. So when I can finally leave that school for High School, I was so
happy. I promised myself that I would not be a shy and quiet girl anymore.

In high school, I was not an outcast anymore. But, I became a shadow. I had a
best friend during high school and she is so sociable and pretty. All of my classmates
like her so much. So I was named her friend, not Marie. During this phase of my life, I
became so insecure and tried to exercise and use skincare to be pretty. Why?
Because people in our school would only talk to me because they want to befriend or
court my pretty friends. I know insecurity is not good, but I can not help but feel it
knowing I am so beyond among my friends.

So COVID-19 came, and all was quarantined. I am sad because of the virus
spreading everywhere, but I am happy because I do not have to go to school and
change myself just to please everybody. I know everyone experienced a lot of
negativities in this pandemic, but we can not deny the fact that these two years of
lockdown made us reflect and realize a lot of things.

Now that I am in college, I could say that I am happy. I am now living for myself
and much more confident than ever. I love myself regardless of how I look and how
other people see me. As long as I am trying to be the better version of myself every
day, I am happy and content.

Pia

MY PERCEPTION
OF LIFE

BY: MICHAELLA SOPHIA V. GARCIA

Prologue: Birth:: Epilogue: Death. There are two links between life and
a book: the beginning and the ending. Life encompasses everything. I find
it hard to define that broad word since there is no constant meaning. It is
different for all of us. Thus, I want to convey how I perceive life as a book
with its pages locked.

Twists of tragedy, laughter, grief, wrath, and despair are some things
that can be discerned in several book chapters. Given that, we couldn’t
choose the chapters or pages we only liked and rip them apart. If that
happens, then we may experience a lack of cognizance. Our Existence,
like a book, offers not merely bliss but is also affiliated with bitterness.
Troubles and inconveniences present themselves and come our way as if
they are testing our capacities, but we should not try to escape them.
Facing them with confidence will aid us in growing more assertive with a
better understanding of why things occur. Notwithstanding, it may seem
irrelevant that it won’t merit remembrance and turn into discouragement,
which can result in fear or anxiety. Even yet, we must be courageous and
surmount obstacles before turning to the next chapter of our lives. It
would bring us learnings that we ought to embrace as we will be able to
utilize them as weapons in the upcoming chapters. Those pages are
locked for a reason. While we conquer, we are gradually revealing the
better versions of ourselves.

Let us remember that those catastrophes mold our personalities and
competence. We have our own pace, and we do not need to compare
ourselves to others if they turn their pages faster. By unlocking the pages
and finishing every chapter, we can attain a fruitful life before we reach
our epilogues.

Lency

MY REALIZATIONS
UPON ENTERING

COLLEGE

BY: LENCY ANN C. MALLARI

Isang magandang nangyari sa yugto ng buhay ko ay habang nag-aaral ako, simula high
school ako unti-unti akong may natutuhan. Akala ko sobrang dali lang mag aral hindi pala.
Sa tatlong campus na napasukan ko lahat yun may natutuhan ako, tulad ng hindi lahat ng
tao sa paligid ay totoo. Sa kolehiyo ko naranasan na mag aral mag-isa, naranasan ko rin
dito na hindi nag-uunahan kundi nag tutulungan, online man o face to face walang maiiwan.
Lahat naman tayo natututo habang nag-aaral iba lang yung sakin dahil hindi naman ako
gaanon katalino.

Isa rin sa mga natutuhan ko sa kolehiyo ay kung paano makipagsabayan sa ibang tao na
mas nakahihigit sa akin dahil sa panahon ngayon, mahirap 'yung naiiwan ka at hindi ka
nakasasabay sa mga klase sa kolehiyo. Sa paghahanap naman ng mga kaibigan, aking
napagtanto na kailangan ay hindi ka mapili dahil sa panahon ngayon, mahirap na 'yung wala
kang nakakausap nang matino o napagsasabihan ng mga problema.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang course ko ay Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. Akala ko noong
una ay madali kaya ito ang aking kinuha. Bago ako tumuntong sa kolehiyo, walang
kasiguraduhan ang buhay ko dahil una pa lang naiisip ko nang hindi ko kaya at hindi ko
kakayanin ngunit may isang taong nagturo sa akin at nagpakita kung gaano kahalaga ang
pag-aaral. Ang buhay ay nagpapatuloy, gusto ko man o hindi, at ngayon, ako ay
nakararamdam ng pagdududa sa sarili na umaabot na sa pag-iisip ng pagsuko ngunit
lumalaban ang puso ko dahil gusto kong maaabot ang aking pangarap, at isang daan dito ay
ang pag-aaral. Isang buwan pa lang ngunit sukong-suko na ako ngunit dahil sa aking
pangarap at mga taong nagsasabi sa akin na "Kaya mo 'yan!" at "Magtiwala ka sa sarili mo."

Kaya naman, sa aking pagpasok sa Bulacan State University, nagkaroon ng mga pagbabago
sa aking sarili. Ang dating mahiyain, ngayon ay marami ng kaibigan, natutong makisalamuha
sa loob ng campus, at kung dati ay pinapatulan ko ang mga taong mapanghusga, ngayon,
dahil sa mga kaibigan ko na aking nakilala, labas-masok na lamang sa aking tenga ang mga
sinasabi ng mga taong walang bilib sa akin. Kaya ngayon, nagkaroon ako ng maraming
inspirasyon sa pag-aaral ko. Nariyan ang aking pamilya, kaibigan, mga taong, maski ang
mga nang-iinsulto sa akin. Sila ang nagtuturo sa akin para magpatuloy sa buhay ko, lalo na
sa pag-aaral ko.

Joy

MY REALIZATIONS
WHILE GROWING UP


BY: JOY ARNIE DG. OTILANO

Growing up indeed involves a lot of changes and new experiences, and from
these, we start to realize things. These realizations sometimes come with a heavy
feeling as they can be serious matters, but at the same time, we can also agree that
they are true about life. Throughout the years, I realized many things. And with that,
I want to share with you some of them through this article. Who knows? Maybe among
them, we might have similar reflections.

One of the realizations I had is that “there is a deep purpose why we are doing
something.” When I was in preschool, I knew I was supposed to be studying at school
at that age. But from grade school, I start to understand that I am learning because it
is essential for my future; to earn a degree, find a job, and fulfill my responsibilities
as a daughter and member of the community. Knowing my purpose motivates me to
work hard and perform well based on what I believe is satisfactory in consideration of
my goals.

Then, the next one is, “we learn a lot of things, be it academic or life lessons.”
Aside from the academic topics we studied at school, I also learned a lot of life
lessons that I treasure. I learned to believe in myself; some schoolwork seemed
complicated, and I doubted myself if I could do it, but then, I found myself shocked
as I realized that I could after trying. Next, working hard for what I want to achieve; I
understand that I should review well for examinations and give my best in every task
to achieve good results. Thus, realizing that we learn many things in academics and
practical life can help us be prouder of ourselves, knowing that we are growing and
improving in many aspects.

And the last one I want to share is that “things might not be as easy as we thought
they were at first.” They say that dreaming is free, and I also believe in that.
However, I think we can also agree that it is also true that achieving those dreams is
sometimes not accessible. When we are younger, we already have our dream
professions and can quickly respond when asked what we want to be in the future.
And as a child, I had many dream professions back then; that is how simple I think
achieving them is. It was not until I grew up that I realized that it is challenging and
requires a lot of resources to pursue, even just one; determination, hard work, and
financial resources are just some. However, I also realized that even if it is hard,
those dreams are still worth pursuing as they lead to good things and make our lives
happier. Therefore, by being aware of how hard things are in reality, we can start
preparing a concrete plan to face it and achieve our dreams and goals instead of
being discouraged.

At this point, we can observe that realizing things is part of growing up; we reflect
on the different experiences and changes we encounter. These realizations help us
continuously grow and improve in various aspects of life. As we realize things, they
affect how we view the things around us and choose our actions. Hence, given that
we continuously grow, we might also come across many other realizations in the
future. And with that, I wonder what other realizations I will have in the following
years and how they will impact the future version of myself, as to how my previous
realizations affected who I am right now.

Kristine

MY RUNWAY
DREAM

BY: KRISTINE RAMELB

Growing up, I was very "kikay" I love dressing up, wearing cute
shoes, bags, accessories, makeup, and everything that can be
classified as kikay. When I was young, one of my dreams was to
be an SM kids’ model. As far as I can remember, I also dreamed
of being a fashion designer when I was young because I love
clothes, but God did not give me the talent to draw, so I did not
take it seriously.

Now that I have grown up, a part of me still wants to be a
runway model. I always watch the runways of international models
on YouTube; watching them makes my heart happy. People around
me have always been rooting for me to pursue modeling since I
was young, but back then, I was in denial that I wanted it because
I was too shy. Before, I used to be bullied because of my body
type, affecting my overall confidence. This time, I am slowly
accepting and embracing my flaws; other people's judgment about
my physical appearance can’t affect me anymore.

I may or may not pursue this dream, but I hope that someday I
have the courage to do and know what my heart truly desires. I am
praying and manifesting that one of my careers would be fashion.
I know I still have a long walk to go in life, but while I’m still not
in the place where I am destined to be, I will continue and try to
make the most out of my life.

Hans

ONLY
ONE

BY:HANS URIEL E. MENDOZA



This story of my life will surely be appreciated by those younger
than us, maybe Junior High School or Senior High School students.
Being an only child and having strict parents is probably our greatest
fear. Also, some may say that being an only child is lucky because
everything will be treated well and spoiled. In reality or my case, it is
very hard. It is true that when you are outside of your comfort zone,
you will feel that you are still alive. I can finally become an only child
because of the pressure of responsibilities; you cannot do things that
ordinary people do because they are very protective of you, to the
point that they do not respect boundaries. As a man, I am
exasperated about my situation because I am supposed to explore
things and be free. In reality, some or many of my girlfriends are
doing something I am not allowed to do, which is very frustrating.

As my teacher told us in her discussion, you will not find the
true meaning of happiness when you are inside of your comfort
zone, and it is true. So, I decided to step out of my comfort zone
to feel life, things that I am not able to do when I am inside.
Thanks to my teacher, that teaches us many life lessons and
experiences. Without her, I will be nothing.

For those people that have the same situation as mine, try to
step out of your comfort zone, and you will feel the presence of
life. Cherish every moment of your life, every hour, every minute,
every second. Life is short so live your life to the fullest because
no one will know when we will disappear from this world.

Mark

OUR COVID-19
EXPERIENCE

BY: MARK LAURENCE D. BUNAG

One of the hardest parts of our lives was being infected by COVID-
19. Words are not enough to describe what we felt when almost all
of us in our family got infected with the virus. Additionally, we lost
one of our family members due to the virus, which was the hardest
part indeed.

It all began in July 2021 when my mother got home from a wake.
She felt some illnesses, which were all symptoms of COVID-19.
Nonetheless, we assumed that it was just an ordinary flu, not until
she got a positive result in her antigen test. Prior to knowing the
result, our father also started to feel symptoms of the virus.
Knowing that he could get complications because of his diabetes, we
immediately sent him to the hospital. Unfortunately, the next day, he
joined our Creator. We could not explain what we felt at that
moment, especially my mother. We did nothing but cry and comfort
each other. Likewise, we did not expect and thought that only
COVID-19 would end his life. Only several days have passed, and
we confirmed that my brother and I were also COVID-19 positive.
Our family was not yet finished to mourn our father's sudden death,
and my mother was not yet fully recovered from the virus. But we
have no choice but to be courageous in facing the adversities in our
lives.

After all of these happenings, I have realized that no one really
knows how long we will live in this world. We should always be kind
and nice to people, especially to our loved ones. Show your love to
them until you have the chance before it turns out to be the thing
that you regret the most. Life may challenge you and make you
suffer, but facing it with courage would let you say one day, “I can't
believe I got through one of the hardest moments of my life.”

Eunice

PAGBABAGO
BY: YZABELLE EUNICE B. BALONDO

Naobserbahan mo na rin ba ang sarili mo na nagiging kumportable sa
isang bagay na nakagawian mo nang gawin, ngunit hindi mo maensayo pa
at mas gumaling dahil nakalimutan mo nang gawin ang mga nakasanayan
mo noon? Kung ako ang tatanungin, ganiyan na rin ako at napapatanong
ako sa sarili ko kung ako pa ba ang dating bata na mahilig sa akademikong
paligsahan. Dati, nais kong laging nasa top upang maipagmalaki at
masuklian ko ang ginagawa para sa akin ng aking mga magulang. Maraming
kompetisyon ang aking sinalihan at lumalaban pa bilang miyembro ng isang
organisasyon sa paaralan. Naging pinuno rin ng Girl Scout at nakakuha ng
mga parangal. Ginawa rin ang lahat upang magkaroon ng diskwento sa
papasukang paaralan.

Lumipas ang ilang taon, tumuntong na ako sa sekundarya kung saan
nagkaroon ng mas maraming kaibigan. Doon ko napatunayan na kaya
naman ng isang tao o mag-aaral na pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at magsaya.
Nababalanse ko ang aking oras kung kaya't ako ay nasasama pa rin sa mga
estudyanteng may karangalan. Noong panahon ding ito, hindi ko na naiisip
na paligsahan ang pag-aaral, na ang kailangan lang sa klase ay
magtulungan, tumulong sa mga tao na mas nangangailangan ng gabay.

Ngayon, para bang nasasanay na ako sa gawain ko o kung sasabihin ay
nagiging komportable na ako. Kung dati ay pinaghahandaan ko ang aking
mga gagawin, ngayon ay kung kailan kailangan ay roon ko pa lang gagawin.
Dumating na rin ako sa puntong ayos lang sa akin kahit anong mangyari sa
aking pag-aaral basta ako ay masaya. Hindi ko na rin nararanasan na
problemahin pa ang aking markang nakukuha. Nawala na ang kaba sa aking
dibdib tuwing ako ay nagkakamali.

Sa puntong ito, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa aking dating
gawi. Marami akong katanungan sa aking sarili na pilit ko pa ring
hinahanap ang kasagutan. Ako ba ay nagpabaya upang humantong dito?
Talaga bang nararamdaman ng isang mag-aaral ang yugto na ito?
Mababago ko pa ba ang aking sarili sa paraang ganado ako sa aking pag-
aaral? Alam kong hindi pa huli ang lahat upang malaman ko ang kasagutan
sa aking mga katanungan.

Nics

POV: YOU'RE
THAT GIRL

BY: MARYANN NICOLE N. NATIVIDAD

What does it really mean of becoming "that" girl?


W h a
t
it?

is


also what we call, being

v The term, “that” girl is someone that

This is e. Nevertheless, becoming

lives a healthy lifestyle to which
l is so much more than the

productiv setups. It involves a solid
.
results to so much good things It is
“that” gir be able to live the lifestyle
iewed as someone who prioritizes the
aesthetic

tasks, they have to do with enough

mindset to


time left to prioritize themselves.






Swap your habits


Early to bed, early to rise


Drink lots of water. Never forget to get sunshine

Always do your bed in the
Start journaling or some fresh air.
mornin g Try reading books of your
Drink your vitamins.
stretching Try your best to choose

Do daily gentle make your
interest healthier foods.
Do something to , walking) L Plan your day ahead
Have time for your loved

ist tasks to do (prioritizing ones
body move (i.e. IMPORT N most important ones) L





A T : Y O U H A


V E T O F E E GOOD



It is important that the main point of this lifestyle is to be able to accomplish things while

still taking good care of yourself and without restraining something such as food intake

and resting. Remember that it is always okay to take a breather and do things that will

make you happy. Like how you shall wear the outfits you like! Being "that" girl is feeling

g o o d a b o
u t y o u r s e l f .


Energy givers v s .
Energy takers





music sleep overthinking not resting

sunlight fresh air dehydration unrealistic goals

self-care friends and family negativity clutter



Note: It is never wrong to feel unproductive and feel like not doing anything sometimes, burnout

is a real thing. It is always nice to pause, take a rest then continue when you are ready again.

Janisse

SLOWLY
CONQUERING
ONE'S FEAR

BY: JANISSE IRISH S. BAUTISTA

Being afraid to speak in front of many people is one of the
barriers to success. A lot of opportunities can be wasted as a
consequence of it. In attending school, public speaking is essential
as it can be a way to show students' capability. Every discussion
during class requires students to recite and participate and being
timid hinders them from effectively communicating their thoughts. A
lot of students experience this problem and it is really frustrating
knowing that it will affect their grades and in a broader sense their
dreams and future. It is not that a lot of people are not trying to
overcome their fear, because the truth is surely they do. But this
anxiety can not be conquered instantly. It would not just disappear
in a moment. It takes a long process to fully convince oneself that
they can and everything will fall into their right places. People with
this problem should take their time and once they are ready to get
out of their comfort zone, they can finally improve themselves little
by little and one step at a time. Being shy is not a sin, it will only
become a sin if they do nothing to vanquish it. On the other hand,
people should not merely base someone's full potential only on
being a great or poor public speaker, instead, they should learn to
start seeing people deeply. They should also appreciate someone's
other strengths, abilities, and talents. With that, people with great
understanding abilities would be of great help to those people who
still need time to come out of their shell.

Khim

STEP-BY-STEP

BY: KHIM LAUDINE T. REYES




Having inborn talents is a blessing. Being naturally smart in both
academics and life is also a blessing. Dancing, singing, acting, playing
any sport, drawing, etc., are the things I wish I had; in short, I was born
with no talents. I am not also that smart; I am just giving my all in my
efforts and hard work, which is why I have good grades. People around
me always tell me that I am brilliant because I receive academic awards
at the end of every school year. They also know that I have talents
within me that just needs to be practiced in order to improve, but that is
what I’m doing. I try my best to dance, sing, act, draw, and many more,
but I cannot do it the same way they do. It is frustrating, so much. I
kept on pressuring myself to the extent that I was already hurting. With
an overthinking mind which results in an aching heart, eventually, the
body gives up.

Having no talents and not being that smart is one of the reasons why
my self-esteem is so low. I am ashamed whenever I speak or do things
in front of numerous individuals, even with my family and close friends
for the reason that I am afraid to make mistakes in front of them. Being
hard on myself is terrible, sacrificing in different aspects (physical,
emotional, and even mental health) just to satisfy them. It is tiring. I am
exhausted, and that is why I want to be better. Not just for myself but
also for everyone around me.

Now, I have finally decided to change my lifestyle and attitude. I
know it is a long process, but I am willing to wait because it is all for
me. This step will help me grow. I am looking forward, to observing the
changes over the next few days, weeks, months, and years. I will no
longer be selfless; I will stop hurting myself just to satisfy the people
around me. Lastly, to not let pressure dominate my life because I want
to be true to myself now. It’s my priority to love myself more to be
genuinely happy.

Aliana

WHO AM I?

BY: ALIANA JULIEN I. DE LEON




I was usually very hesitant about my identity. I also struggled to figure out
my authentic self because it is tough to express yourself in this world full of
judgments and a world where you feel like no one can understand you.

There are moments when it is difficult for me to describe who I am, so I
wonder and ask myself, "Who am I?" However, I am becoming more aware of
my identity as time passes. I always want to understand other people's
thoughts about myself, whether positive or negative. After all, I like to be
better in the areas of my life that need improvement because I do not want to
be the same as I was yesterday. I always believe that there always rooms for
improvement. It was never easy to listen to the negative thoughts of the
people around you, but I learned to look at the positive side of everything so I
took every negative thought as a positive criticism and made it a lesson in my
life. I also discovered that going through difficult times and doing things
outside of my comfort zone is necessary for the development or growth
process.

One of the most difficult situations in life is having to deal with the pain
that is caused by your family and friends. Again, I realized that nobody is
perfect, and many people may hurt you either unintentionally or intentionally
and during those difficult times, I learned to rely on Jesus, the only true friend
I know. He helped me realize that I can always rely on Him, no matter how
challenging my circumstances, because He always has an answer and a
solution for every problem I experience. I learned that my true identity is
found in Christ and not in anyone living in this world. I knew that He is greater
than anyone, anything, and everything that I may encounter. Some people
might say that I am such a failure, I am a burden, I am not worthy of anything,
and that I don't deserve anything, but thank God, because He reminded me
that I am loved, I am accepted, I am forever safe and I am victorious in His
presence.

"No matter what the people may say and no matter how hard it is for me to
understand myself, it is still the word of God that will define who I am because
my true identity was found in Him."

Laurice

YOUNG, WILD,
AND FREE


BY: LAURICE JADE R. BORRE

Noong bata ako, hindi ko naiintindihan ‘yung mga pinsan kong mas matanda sa akin kapag
sinasabi nila na “Ang saya ng high school.” Ano ba namang malay ko sa high school life
noong elementary ako ‘di ba? Wala akong ibang ginawa kundi tumango na lang sa mga
binabanggit nilang pangyayari noong high school sila dahil hindi ko sila naiintindihan.
Lumipas ang ilang taon, dumating ‘yung araw na nasabi kong “hala, high school na rin ako.”
Kinakabahan, nababahala, nasasabik, at natutuwa. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang
mararamdaman ko nang tumapak ako sa gate ng paaralan namin. Iniisip ko na lamang sa oras
na iyon kung makakagawa rin kaya ako ng mga alaala na madadala ko hanggang pagtanda? O
magiging normal lang ito gaya kung paano ako nag-aral noong ako’y nasa elementarya.

Unang klase sa unang araw ng pasukan, nagpakilala sa amin ang aming adviser at co-
adviser. Ako ay nasa Special Program in the Arts o SPA Section kung tawagin noong ako’y
high school. Dahil dito, hindi maiwasan magtanong ng aming co-adviser kung anu-ano raw ba
ang mga talento namin at napunta kami sa seksyon na iyon. At sa kaniyang pagtatanong, hindi
ko namalayan na kusa nang itinaas ng katawan ko ang aking kanang kamay. Nagboluntaryo
ako para ipakita ang aking talento sa pagsasayaw. Nakakahiya sa umpisa, ngunit kalaunan ay
naging komportable rin ako sa mga kaklase ko. Noong araw na iyon, may ngiti sa labi akong
umuwi patungo sa aming tahanan.

Ilang linggo, buwan, at taon ang nakaraan, nagkaroon ako ng mga kaibigan sa aming
seksyon. Makukulit, masayahin, at mapagmahal na mga kaibigan. Magmula nang sila ay
maging kaibigan ko, unti-unti kong naiintindihan ang mga pinsan ko noon sa kanilang mga
sinasabi na tunay ngang masaya sa high school.

Nariyan ang mga eksenang may magdadala ng gitara sa klase, at pagsapit ng lunch break o
recess ay magtitipon-tipon sa isang pwesto at sisimulan na mag-jamming ng kahit anong
kanta. Naranasan ko rin noon ang umuwi mula sa eskwelahan habang may malakas na ulan at
ni isa sa aming magkakaibigan ay walang dalang payong o kahit ano pang panangga. Ang
kinalabasan ay sabay-sabay kaming naligo sa ulan, suot ang aming mga uniporme,
nagbabatuhan ng mga medyas na basa sa gitna ng daan nang hindi iniinda ang nakakadiring
mga talsik ng tubig sa aming mga mukha.
Naranasan ko rin noon ang lumaban sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Rehiyon III gamit ang talento ko
sa pagsasayaw. Isang masayang alaala iyon sa akin dahil hilig ko na ang sumayaw noong
bata pa lamang ako. Higit pang nakatutuwa tuwing ang aming paaralan ay nananalo sa
patimpalak. Dahil sa pagsasayaw ay naranasan kong makuhanan ng video na ipapakita sa
telebisyon. Labis ang gulat ng aking mga magulang nang makita raw nila ang aking mukha sa
telebisyon habang sila ay nanonood.
Ngunit gaya ng ibang pangyayari, lahat ng inuumpisahan ay tinatapos din. Dumating ang oras
na kailangan na naming maghiwa-hiwalay upang tahakin ang mas mahirap na daan tungo sa
aming tagumpay. Gayunpaman, masaya ako na masasabi ko sa aking mga nakababatang
pinsan na “kagaya ng iba, masaya rin ang high school life ko.”



ANG Jelay
PAROLA AT

SI INA

BY: ANGELICA C. POLICARPIO

Ang parola ko sa gabi,
Hindi siya napupundi

Hindi siya mabibili
Ng kahit anong salapi



Sa gabi ay pagmamasdan
At ika’y aking hahagkan
Simula na ang kwentuhan
Sa paskong pagsasamahan



Ilaw mo ang siyang gabay

Sa’king bawat
paglalakbay

Tanaw ko na ang
tagumpay

Dahil sa ilaw mong taglay



Katulad mo ang parola
Kinang mo rin ay pag-asa

Binubusong aking mata
Sa hiwaga at mahika


Ang parola at si Ina,
Ay tunay na kakaiba

Sila’y nagbibigay saya
Sa akin sa tuwina

Rhica
ART OF MY

LIFE

BY: RHICA AUDREY G. GLORIOSO

I heard an ear wrecking sound,
That makes my head fall to the

ground,
They say the world is round,
But why it doesn’t match what I’ve

found?



That time, I was on the beach,
Still feel the heat of the sun in my

face,
While walking 'till the end of this

race,
But all I know is that I'm still

stuck to make an ace,
From the torn of my heartache.



Why am I still standing between

two lines?
Why am I still waiting to shine

even if it’s being declined?
I always tried to choose a path

that will align,
And find the perfect one, at the

same time.



I'm still finding myself to draw,
By looking through a window while

having a nice stew,
I think my head might withdraw,

Cause I always redo.



But right now, I am a veteran
writer,

Also an artist and a painter,
I can write on a piece of paper,
Then turn it into a piece of art,
That will bring an inspiration to

their heart.

BAKIT AKO
NAHIHIYA?

FrancineBY: FRANCINE L. ARCILLA
Habang tumatagal na namamalagi
sa loob
ng apat na pader at sa itaas ay
ang pangsilong,
sa paglabas ako'y nangangamba't
natatakot
sa mga taong maaring
makasalubong.


Habang tumatagal,
pagkabalisa sa harap ng tao'y
lumalala,
sapagkat kompyansa sa sarili
ay tuluyan nang nawawala.


Iniisip kung anong gagawin,
sa bawat segundo ng paglabas
sa puti naming paunang harangan.
Sa mga kalmado kong paghakbang
ay animo’y nalulusaw na,
sa hindi malamang dahilan


Sa kanilang mga tingin,
aking hinihiling, ako nawa’y
lisanin.
Mga matang nakamasid,
utak ko'y tumatakbo nang mabilis.
Oh, bakit nga ba ganito ang
nararamdaman
sa tuwing may lumalapit sa akin?


Hinihiling na 'wag akong kausapin
sa dahilang hindi mahanap na
sagot sa bakit,
bakit ako nahihiya?

AmorBEHIND OF

THAT FACE

BY: AMEURFINA V. GIRON





A little girl that is everyone’s
favorite
For the beauty and pureness,
she lives with
Little did she know, she is a
myth
That everyone wants to hear
for being unique




Yet behind that face
The loneliness and emptiness
chase
Can’t find the ways
On how to escape the dark
phase




A feeling that you’re not
enough
Therefore, you just pretend to
be tough
Facing the struggles alone
Since judgments may be thrown




Even your shadow leaves you
when you’re in darkness
And only leaves the feeling of
madness
How can a little girl find the
word ‘’fulfillness’’
When she can’t feel the real
happiness

Sarah

ELEHIYA PARA

SA AKING SARILI

BY: SARAH A. CADORNA
Hinubog na mananampalataya
Isang mapanagutang mag-aaral Ngunit sumapit ang araw na pinaka kinakatakutan ko
At isang mapagmahal at mabait na anak. Tuluyan nang nilamon ng liwanag ang mundo mo.
Iyan ang madalas na puri nila sayo, Sinubukan mang lumaban, ngunit hindi na kinaya
na sa tingin ko nama’y totoo. Siguro nga’y lakbayin sa mundo’y natapos na.
Isang masiglang mananampalataya Nawala man sa sanlibutan, sa puso’t isip ng mga
Na kahit abutin ng hating gabi’y ayos lang mahal sa buhay ay mananatiling buhay.
Matapos lang ang gawa, sa sinumpaang tungkulin. Sa pagkawala mo ay nawala rin ako,
Isang mapanagutang mag-aaral, sa paglisan mo’y siya ring paglisan ko.
Na kahit madaling araw na’y sinisikap matapos ang Ako ay ikaw, ikaw ay ako
takdang- aralin. Ako nga pala ang pagka ng elehiyang ito
Dahil kinabukasa’y kailangang tumulong sa gawaing Hiram na buhay ko’y natapos na, ipinikit ang matang
bahay at dumalo ng doktrina’t gawain. may galak na nadarama.
At isang mapagmahal at mabait na anak, Dahil alam ko sa sarili na, natapos ko na ang aking
na kahit hindi perpekto ang pamilya’y nananatiling takbuhin na taglay ang kahalalan na ibinigay sa akin.
positibo sa anubang bagay. Huwang kayong mag-alala o kapatid ko,
May nga pagkakamali mang nagawa dahil sa muling pagparito ni Cristo kayo muli’y
ay agad mo itong pinagsisisihan makakapiling ko.
at ginagawang aral sa buhay. Kakamtan natin ang bayang banal,
Ikaw at ikaw ang laging kasama ko Kung saan wala ng gutom o uhaw walang lungkot,
Simula musmos hanggang ngayon, ikaw ang hapis at kapighatian.
sanggang dikit ko. Muli tayong magkikita-kita at muling magsasama-
Ang saya mo ay ang saya ko, ang pagluha mo ay siya sama
ring pagluha ko. Doon sa ipinangako nya,
Kasangga mo ako sa anumang laban mo, Ipinangako nyang kaharian.
na kahit minsa’y hindi mo na kaya— Bago tuluyang magpantay ang aking mga paa
nagpapanggap ka pa rin na masaya. May isang mensaheng ihahabilin sa aking mga mahal
Akala nila’y wala kang problema sa buhay na—
Dahil ang lahat ay nakakubli sa matamis mong tawa. “Kahit mawala ako sa mundong ito, tandaan ninyong
Naging matatag ka, ganon din ako mahal na mahal ko kayo. Mga masasayang alaala’y
Salamat dahil pinakita mo sa akin ang buong babaunin ko. Nawa’y magpakatatag pa kayo. Kahit
pagkatao mo. wala na ako sa tabi niyo. Alam ko namang sa puso’t
Siguro nga, karugtong na kita sa’king pagkatao. isip ninyo’y buhay na buhay ako.
Hanggang dito nalang muna”
Nagmamahal- Sarah

Jaz

HINDI KA NAG-IISA

BY: JAZMINE NICOLE T. ESGUERRA




"Hindi ka nag-iisa" Dahil bumabalik, ayaw kang tigilan
Walang dahilan, Walang sagot, Laging nakasunod at nakikipaghabulan
Walang nakakaalam kung bakit ka Gusto mo nang tumakas at kumawala
malungkot Ayaw mo nang magpasakop at
Mali, walang nakakaalam kung bakit ka mapagod
natatakot Gusto mo nang itigil ang pag-iyak,
Mali, dahil hindi ka naman takot, hindi
ka lamang malungkot, at lalong hindi Ang pagtakbo, gusto mo ng itigil ang
ka masaya lahat
Wala, wala kang nararamdamang Ang pag-ikot ng mundo, paggalaw ng
emosyon kamay ng relo,ang pagtibok ng puso,
Ang nararanasan mo ay kawalan Ang paghinga.
Kawalan ng pakiramdam Gusto mo nang matapos, at iwan ang
Kawalan ng... ewan. mundo.
Basta wala. Hindi. Pero hindi.
Hindi mo alam kung paano mo Walang makapagsasabi kung tama o
ilalarawan mali, kung ito ba ay karuwagan o
Basta alam mo may kulang katapangan.
Ang alam mo unti-unti kang nawawasak Pero mayro'n, magsasabi na hindi pa
Ng ano? Sino? Hindi mo rin alam. ngayon ang oras para huminto.
Kahit wala kang gawin napapagod ka, Sana pahintulutan mo ang sarili mo,
Pagod na pagod ka na. lalo na sa mga sandaling nagpapahinga
Pagod ka na sa lahat ng nangyayari. ang sa iyo'y gumugulo,
Hindi ka baliw, Hindi ka sinasapian, Pero sana sapat nang malaman mo,
Pero wala kang maramdaman, Na may nag-aalala, may nakakaalala,
Gusto mong makaramdam ng sakit, Hindi man lubusang nakakaintindi,
Dahil para kang namamanhid makikinig pa rin kahit malayong sa
Hindi ka naman lumaklak ng iyong tabi.
anesthesia
Ni hindi mo nga naubos ang kinain mo May mga dahilan pa rin para mangarap,
kanina Dahilan para ang mata ay hindi huminto
Wala kang gana, sa pagkurap.
lahat ng kinain 'di naman umabot sa Handang ipakita ang posibilidad sa
iyong sikmura. Hihiga ka na lamang sa hinaharap,
kama, Na sa lipunang ito ay may nagsisikap
At kapag nagsawa na sa pagtutulala, Na maintindihan ka at samahan ka,
Iiyak ka nalang bigla hanggang sa Hindi lang dahil sa kailangan ka ng
mapilitang gumawa ng hindi kaaya-aya, mundo
Pero wala namang nagbago, Kun'di kailangan mo ng mundo,
Sa halip ay nakaramdam ka pa ng sakit, Mundo na tatanggap at may kamay na
Ngunit tila tuwang-tuwa ka sa sakit, aakap
Dahil sa wakas ikaw ang may kontrol sa Mundong hindi ka tatawanan sa
sitwasyon, Nakalimutan ang sa iyo'y nararanasan mong paghihirap,
lumalamon... Dahil hindi magiging mangmang
Pero pansamantala. at hindi magiging manhid
sa mga tulad mong nakakulong
kahit wala sa rehas.
Hindi mo pa oras;

I might not be the most Lori
beautiful
I AM ME
But I have beauty in
full BY: LORDHELLE R. TURALBA

I might not be your
first choice

But I am a great choice
There’s a thought in my

head,
which makes me doubt,

but I will be what I
want to be.

Then you will see the
real me.



Here I sit, As I dream
of it

I take in pride dreaming
for the best of it.

Success is miles away,
but I’ll keep walking on

the way
With my head up high

I’ll keep being me.
Whatever happens, I

want to be
Self-respecting and

conscience free.



I’m a simple girl yet
have an extraordinary

life.
I have an amazing mom

and a cool dad,
Talents and knowledge

that I can share with
everyone;

And friends that are
more than enough.

If I could be someone,
who could, I be?

I will not choose anyone
but myself,

I’m different, always
have been,

All thanks to our God
almighty.

Jascel

ILUSYON

BY: JASCEL ANNE A. BISCO

Anong saya ng buhay kapag kasama ka
Mga salitang naglalaro sa isip kong ‘di

maipinta
Mababakas sa mukha ang galak at ligaya
At nagkukubli sa mumunting emosyon na

masaya.



Gaano nga ba kasaya ang makapiling ka
Na kahit saglit ay mayakap ka at makasama
Mga ilusyon na saki ’y lubhang nagpapasaya

Ngunit nag-iiwan ng malaking sugat at
mantsa.



Ako nga kaya ‘y sasaya kung ika ‘y
makakasama

Taimtim na nag-isip sabay ng buntong
hininga

Tulalang iniisip ang mga sandaling maligaya
Hinihiling na ang mga guni-guni ay maging

alaala.



Masarap kayang marinig ang mga salitang
mahal kita

Tanong sa aking sarili na may kaba
Habang nanginginig at tumatawa

Pilit na ngumingiti at nagpapanggap na
masaya.





S’ya nga ba ‘y sasaya kapag ako ‘y kasama
Payukong nag-isip sabay punas ng mga
mata
‘Di mapigilang mapaluha sa sakit na
nadarama

Karanasang pilit ko mang itago ay ‘di na
mabubura.



Isang ilusyon na sa isip ko ‘y ‘di na maaalis
Kaya ang magagawa ko na lamang ay ang
magtiis
Pilitin ko mang maniwala sa mga salitang
matamis
Mananatili lang ang puso ko na puno ng
hinagpis.

LheiING TUNE

KUNG SAYA

BY: MARIA HELEINA MENESES

Ing tune saya, eyamu akakwa king
metung a bage

Nune king ali-aliwang pamamaralan
ning biye

Bistaman eta magtagumpe sabe-sabe
Ing babo na ing bahalang mamye


Nung yakung kutnan yu, nanu nga
pin ing mamye tula kanaku?
Masaya ku patse asosolu ke ing
sarili ku
Oneng aliwa yay'ng ayli ku patse
atin aliwang tau
Lalu na reng kaluguran ampo
pamilya ku


Lilibut, mamasyal ampong
mamangan kilwal

Gyang patingapun eku makaramdam
pagal

Mapalyaring deng aliwa edaku
antindyan

Nune ketang makantang paralan, ing
tune kung saya kakung
panamdaman.


Explan
ation

The title “Ing Tune Kung Saya”
means “My Real Happiness”, this
poem I made encapsulates the type
of personality I have which is
extrovert, how I achieve my real
happiness, how it made me somehow
different from others, and that
happiness comes from a lot of things.
Being outgoing is my own definition
of being happy. As stated in the
poem, others may not understand me,
hence, I don’t really care since this
is where my real happiness comes
from. Moreover, we all have our own
ways of being happy, but let’s still
keep in mind that God plays an
important role in achieving it.

LARAWAN Aliyah
BY: ALIYAH FRANCINE GOJO CRUZ

Ako'y nagbalik ngunit wala ka na.
Alaala pa ang pangakong binitawan natin sa

isa't isa.
Hindi ko malimot ang bawat kataga, letra,

pantig.
Halos magunaw ang daigdig ko sa iyong mga

titig.



Aking nilingon ang ating nakaraan.
Bakas pa ang galak ng pusong iniwan.

Pinagpalit, sinaktan at sinugatan.
Kaya't ang alaalang ginto'y makikita na

lamang sa larawan.



Hindi ko inakalang ang ating pagsasama'y
makakalas.

Parang pakong binaon saka binaklas.
Ang mga pangakong dapat sana'y tutuparin.

Hanggang sa ngayo'y pangako pa rin.



Sinta bakit mo ako sinaktan nang ganito?
Hindi pa ba sapat na ialay ang puso ko
sa'yo?
Minahal kitang tapat ngunit ako'y iyong
niloko.

Sa kabila ng lahat, mahal pa rin kita at tila
walang nagbago.



Ang gabi'y bata pa at kumikislap ang mga
bituin.

Parang mata mo nung ika'y sa akin tumingin.
Ramdam kong tunay ang bawat salita ngunit

heto ako ngayon,
Wasak ang puso't lumuluha.



Ang bawat pahina ng ating aklat ay sinarhan

ng luha't sakit na ikaw ang nagbuhat.
Hindi ko ginustong matapos ito bagkus ay

hiniling kong sa altar idiretso.
Ngunit ngayong tapos na ang lahat ay

pagmamasdan na lamang kita.
Titingin, magbabantay at 'di ka iiwan.
Dahil alam kong ika'y sa larawan ko na

lamang matatagpuan.



Ang tanging hiling ko'y maging masaya ka.
Na kahit ang aki'y pagdurusa at ang iyo
nama'y ligaya.

Na kahit ang aki'y sakit at ang iyo nama'y
langit.

Na kahit ang aki'y larawan at ang iyo
nama'y kapayapaan.


Paalam na Sinta.

'Di na kita gagambalain pa.
Ang huling kataga sa iyo ay dumating na.

Mahal na mahal na mahal pa rin kita.

LIFE IS A Cielo
FLOWER

BY: FRANCHESCA LOUISE J. ARELLANO

Life is a flower.
It requires care and

patience,
Light and darkness
For it to bloom beautifully.



Life can be the most

beautiful of all,
But it will still come to an

end
Just like how flowers die

And fade away.



With that, it teaches people
to cherish life,

Its magnificence and
significance.

However, this seems to occur
only when it begins to
wither;
The late-blooming

admiration of people for life.

MIRROR, Crystal
MIRROR

ON THE WALL
BY: CRYSTAL JHADE A. GARCIA

When you see your own reflection,
Who do you see in the mirror?

Is it a person whose eyes hold glitter?
Or a person with a dying flicker?


Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Do you feel the fairest of them all?
Or do you despise yourself all in all,

Wishing the mirror to fall?



Do your eyes linger on the imperfections?
Head full of questions,

Heart overflowing with rejections,
And wishing to do a whole lot of

interventions?



Yes?
Then close your eyes and rest,
The person in the mirror should not bring

you dread.
Take a deep breath and get rid of the mess

inside your head.



That person is not an enemy.
It is someone part of your beautiful identity.

Don't treat yourself too harshly,
For your imperfections build you as a

beauty.



Hold yourself high;
Look with kind eyes.
You are as beautiful as a sunrise,
That illuminates the skies.



Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Open your eyes and see it all;
The gorgeous spirit that lies within your

soul
That makes you a whole lot more.

SARILI KOAlthea
MUNA

BY: ALTHEA KALE MACARAIG

Hindi kailanman magiging mali ang pagpili
sa sarili

Sa bawat pagkakataon ito ang dapat na
laging manatili

Kahit ba minsan ang mga desisyon ay puro
pagkakamali

Kailangan lamang imulat ang mata upang
hindi na mawili



Mahirap man ang araw-araw dahil sa mga
pinagdaraanan

Ngunit sa pamamagitan ng katatagan ito ay
malalagpasan

Ang mga aral na makukuha sa pagsubok ay
dapat pahalagahan

Dahil ito ay madadala at magagamit
hanggang sa katandaan



Huwag kang matakot na piliin ang iyong
kapayapaan

Magpatuloy ka lang basta't wala kang ibang
tinatapakan

Walang masamang umalis sa sitwasyong
gusto mo ng lagpasan

Magtiwala kang may susuporta sa iyong
likuran sa lahat ng laban



Palaging mong gawin ang tama at ito’y iyong
panindigan

Dahil sa pamamagitan nito ay wala kang
pagsisisihan

Huwag kang gumanti sa mga taong ikaw ay
pinahihirapan

Hindi sila karapat dapat sa iyong oras kaya’t
dapat nang iwasan



Ipagmalaki mo at matuwa ka sa iyong
kinaroroonan

Dahil bago ka mapunta dyan halos mawala
ka na sa katinuan

Nawalan ng gana sa lahat na tila ba ito na
ang iyong katapusan

Ngunit tumayo pa rin at hindi nagpaagos sa
nararamdaman



Marami man ang hindi naniniwala sa iyong
kakayahan

Pagpursigihan mo lang at huwag kang
panghinaan

Gawin mo itong inspirasyon upang may
mapatunayan

Hanggang sa makita nilang mali sila ng
pinaniniwalaan

Chel

“SINO ANG

MAGWAWAGI?”

BY: RACHEL B. NICOLAS
Dati-rati’y isipan ay lupon ng magagandang

imahinasyo’t memorya,


Paano pa nga ba magpapatuloy at makaaahon,

Kung itong ‘pugad’ ng mga positibong bagay ay

Kasangga ito sa anumang mga negatibo na nag- tila nakakahon,
aanyong ‘bala’, Ang kaisipa’y siya na ring ibinabago at
Iniiwas — na ‘tila ang mga dumarating ay hindi na ikinukulong,—

rapat alintana, Ang mga kalungkutan, takot, at kahinaang
Basta’t ang mahalaga’y dala ang sarili bilang ninanais ibaon.
‘sandata.’

Ngunit nang maglaon ito’y balot ng takot at hindi na Kanino ka nga ba kakapit kung 'di tukoy ang
mapakali, kalaban,
Mga sigaw nito sa iba’t-ibang dako’y nanlilinlang at Paano ka nga ba lulusob, kung itong gulo ay naga-
nambibingi, anyong giyera—
Kahit sa pagpikit, mga kumplikadong imahe’y patuloy Giyerang hindi nakikita ngunit hangad mong
na sumisilip, matakasan,
Na siya mo ring nabubuo nang hindi
Lalaruin at aalipustahin ang diwa mong ginigising namamalayan.

nang pilit.

Sa gabi'y walang tiyak ang kaniyang pagdating, Kaya’t sino pa nga ba ang katunggali’t kakampi,
Kung hindi na rin matukoy ang ‘anino’ ng sarili,

Mistulang ang oras ay kaniya na ring pinipigil, Kung ang katotohanan na ang laban mo’y ikaw
Waring may hawak itong ‘armas’ na pawang ika’y lamang ang nakaaalam,
aalipinin, ‘Pagkat ito’y namumuhay sa ‘loob’ rin ng iyong

Sa normal mo lamang sanang araw, ngayo’y sakop kaisipan.
nang dala nitong lagim.

Sino nga ba ang magwawagi,

Patuloy ka nitong gagambaliin, Kung ang sandata sa digmaang ito’y sayo lamang
Bukod sa patibong, sugat ma’y dala rin nitong nakakubli,
‘patalim’, Sino nga ba ang dapat magdiwang at talunan,
Mga ‘marka’y’ sisimbolo sa mga labang pilit tinatapos, Sa pagitan mo at depresyong matagal nang ‘di
Kahit hindi rin tukoy kung kailan maitatanggal ang sa matugunan?
iyo’y ‘nakagapos’.

A lady in a mirror Bek
Light and dark
SPECTACULAR
shadow behind her MYSTERY
Beautiful balance to
BY: MARIVIC B. FERNANDO
be seen
Yet who is she, in

dark scene?



She is a mystery
Hiding beyond the

misery
Who does not unfold

Profess to be bold



Wailing in the
corner

Wind blows to her
Now, she’s smiling

Her state keeps
changing



Every dark night
She fights with

might
With a battle inside

her
Thinking forever



In a thousand puzzle

pieces
Where is her right

place?
Trying and trying in

every corner
To see if she matter



She is a dark
mystery to be shown
Yet beautiful to be

known
She is me
A spectacular

mystery

Erilyn

THE SWEET
ESCAPE

BY: ERILYN GRACE M. DE VERA

As the stars shine so
bright,

While hearing the whispers
of the night,

I always keep thinking if I
was doing right,

But you’re the moon that
keeps giving me the light.



You’re like a dancing flower,
I would love to go with you

to Eiffel Tower.
Either our moments are

sweet and sour,
You’re still my rest every

hour.



As you help me to escape
reality,

Thank you for being there
for me.

I think you’re my clarity,
In this world, is full of
mystery.

THE ROLLER Marj
COASTER RIDE

BY: MARJORIE ANNE O. SANTOS

Life is like a roller coaster
There are ups; there are downs.

There are hills, and there are
valleys.

But our choice is to cry or
enjoy the ride.



Sometimes it may be hard to
breathe,

It may be hard to swim and it
may be hard to crawl.

But still, push yourself and just
keep going,

At least you can walk away
knowing that you’ve tried.




If you stumble, get up and go
harder,

And always remember why you
started.

Dig deep within yourself to
conquer challenges,

Because there’s always a fruit
of labor at the end of the day.



How many times we lose won’t

matter,
And it is okay if our life makes

us tired.
We just make sure that we are

learning too,
Because there’s a bigger

blessing awaits too.



As a passenger on this roller
coaster,

I enjoyed it and cried a
thousand times.

But still, I’m glad and live it
fully

To experience this kind of ride
in my life.

I hope this year will be a
smooth ride.

Glayza

WAVES OF

YORE

BY: GLAYZA E. BUAN

After autumn
When roses are blooming
When wind-blown cherry

blossoms are scattered
When the rainbow of hope is

seen.



I went back to our old
neighborhood street

In just a split seconds
The waves of memories

flashed in my mind
Approaching like a swift,

scorching wind.



The breeze blows dust of
realizations to me

Whispering how youth glows
for a moment, blindingly
bright

And how you can never go
back to it

Who would have imagined
that the sands of time could

pass so quickly?