The Irony of Growing Up

Well Wishes

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Shifting to Higher Gear

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Dreams, Hopes, Gratitude

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NewsNewsFeaturesFeaturesLiteraryLiteraryFilipinoFilipinosection

Editorial BoardEditorial BoardSchool Year 2011 - 2012

Editors in Chief: Jude Philip CebrecusRachel Anne Puentespina

Associate Editors: Jessa Gaile PalerKirsty Shanice Lim

News Editor: Ana Isabella Motus

Asst. News Editor: Gabrielle Beatrice Batiller

Features Editor: Keshia Angeli Baltazar

Asst. Features Editor: Maria Lelaina Cardeño

Literary Editor: Jae Christelle Tam

Asst. Literary Editor: Chelsea Alexis Chu

Graphics Editor: John Gabriel Chua

Asst. Graphics Editor: Joanne Andrea de la Torre

Photo Editor: Gabrielle Marie Sanchez

Asst. Photo Editor: Hans Tan

Filipino Editor: Jennise Ann See

Asst. Filipino Editor: Alexe Dianne Te

First Year Seeds Coordinator: Reanne GoSecond Year Seeds Coordinator: Frederick YuThird Year Seeds Coordinator: Sheryl Dianne BernardoFourthYear Seeds Coordinator: Stephanie Joyce Ng

Moderator: Ms. Edgermi B. GerastaAsst. Moderators: Mr. Cris D. Barabas

Mrs. Mary Jane D. Pañares

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Editor’s Note

Bidding Farewellby Jude Philip Cebrecus and Rachel Anne Puentespina

obody lives their life backwards. Always move forward. Look ahead, because that’s were we are all head-

ing. We leave behind our cherished memories and create new ones along our way towards our future. What matters now is how we all should be grateful to this change in our lives.

We tend to forget how to be grateful. We tend to forget all the blessings we have received. We tend to forget to appreciate. We forget that God is and always will be present in our lives and we fail to thank Him for that. Every day is a miracle and a gift from God.

As Seniors, it’s inevitable to graduate. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. And as soon as we walk down that aisle and receive that diploma, we look at everyone around us - our batchmates who went through the same hardships as we did, our teachers, the unsung heroes who built us up to reach that stage, our parents and their never ending sacrifices, and most importantly God, Who went with us eve-

ry single step of the way. We should be grateful to all of these people. Without them, that stage and diploma would never be ours.

After high school, a new chapter of our life begins. It’s back to square one. We’d meet a whole lot of new people. Though some of our paths may be intertwined with our previ-ous classmates, the feeling would never be the same. We’d stop and think one day and say that we miss high school. It’d be nice to remem-ber those days, but life goes on and we have to move alone with our lives, too.

So, here’s a little advice for those who’ll graduate soon. Live every day of your high school days to the fullest. Yes, this may be a bit cliche, but it still holds true for most. Don’t use all of your time glued to that Math or Physics book. You’ll have to live a little. You still have to study a lot, but don’t forget to appreciate and recognize the people around you along the way. Remember, regret always comes only in the end.

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by Harvey Sytiongsa

News

Prom Pictures

News

Hearter’s Way of the Dragon

The Ateneo Hearters participated in a mass and pro-gram in celebration of the Chinese New Year on January 20, 2012.

The day began with Fr. Eldwin del Castillo, S.J. pre-siding the morning mass.

During the mass, an ancestral veneration was held. Based on the Chinese culture, this is a practice done by living family members to provide continuous happiness and well-being for their deceased loved ones. It is a way of continually showing respect towards them and reinforcing the unity of family and lineage.

After the mass, a program followed which opened with the singing of nursery rhymes performed by the Early Education (EED) students. Also, selected grade four and five students performed the “Umbrella” dance and a violin recital followed. There were Chinese drum performances shown. The boys of third year St. Francis Xavier performed the Drag-on Dance. Finally, the program came to a close with the light-ing of firecrackers – a practice which is said to drive away evil spirits.

A week after the celebration, there were a series of activities organized in line with the Chinese New Year. The high school students watched films entitled “Ocean Heaven” and “Milu Deer”. On the other hand, grade school students witnessed a live Kung Fu exhibition by a Buddhist monk. They also had Anny He and Lisa Dou teach the students knot making of Chinese charms and paper designs. Throughout the week, there were Chinese delicacies and toys sold in the grand lobby. A daily performance on Chinese music was pre-sented before morning classes and at dismissal time in the afternoon. Likewise, a display of lanterns, tarpaulins and art-works were seen around the grand lobby.

In Wonderland with You

by Angel Chelsea Sarza

Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu held its an-nual Junior Senior Prom with the theme “In Wonderland with You” at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino on January 29, 2012.

Lost beneath their deepest imaginations, the jun-iors and seniors of our school had a night of bliss and won-der.

The grand celebration started with the entry of stars, stags, and couples. After which, the event proper be-gan. The program started with a dance number by the Busy Buddies that emphasized the night’s theme. Nino Christo-pher Cardenas, the Student Council president, welcomed everyone to the event. During the celebration, the juniors and seniors showcased their talents through different gen-res of dance.

One of the main highlights of the prom is the turning over of responsibilities of the seniors and juniors. The last will and testament was spoken by Franbeau Rhaz Beduya and Maria Monreal. They mentioned how the sen-iors placed their full trust unto the juniors in upholding the responsibilities that they will face next school year. On the other hand, the juniors, represented by Selina Miranda, prepared a tribute for the seniors, represented by Eugene Labella, as their way of saying thank you and good luck as they enter the world of college, and assuring the seniors that they will take their places next school year, keeping in mind the values our school teaches. With this, they prepared a short video highlighting the unforgettable moments of the seniors and they gave a token of remembrance. After which, the different winners of the various awards were rec-ognized.

With bright lights and upbeat music, the JS Prom 2012 ended with the community dancing.

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News

Gift of the Holy Spiritby Ana Isabella Motus

The Juniors received the Sacrament of Confirma-tion, which was presided by Bishop Cortes, in the morning of February 4, 2012 at the Sacred Heart Parish.

This event is the rite of initiation of Christian church-es for the purpose of bestowing the gift of the Holy Spirit. Being one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ, it is for the bestowal of sanctifying grace and the strengthening of the union between individual souls and God.

On the day of the event, the venue was filled with Juniors, parents, and godparents. The Campus Ministry, GLEE, CAT officers, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts witnessed the Confirmation Rite.

In his homily, Bishop Cortes made mention the symbols and meanings of the Sacrament: what they have to do and what they won’t do. He mentioned about the very famous “slap-on-the-cheek”.

“When I slap you [gently], it isn’t that the confirmand slaps back but this act signifies the strength we receive to fight as soldiers of Christ,” Bishop Cortes explained.

Everything was smooth and solemn.

Unexpected Happeningby Regina Marie Yngente

What began as just a normal day for everyone, turned out unexpectedly when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the region of Negros and Cebu at 11:49 a.m. on February 6, 2012.

The entire school community was rattled, feeling the sudden shakes. With the help of the CAT Officers and the Scouts, they followed the well-rehearsed procedures in pro-tecting themselves and in moving out of the building. The students were then situated in the open areas of the school, just as practiced during previous earthquake drills.

After more than one hour, the Administration an-nounced that classes were suspended so that students can be safe in case of any aftershocks were to follow.

Despite the several cracks found on the building, it was a blessing for nobody died or was badly injured.

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News

Ateneo Hearter’s Bestby Gabrielle Beatrice Batiller

Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu celebrated the annual “Ateneo Hearter’s Best” on February 10, 2012. This event showcased the best of the student’s talents in aca-demics, sports, music, and dance.

This year, the event opened in our school gym with a parade of students who excelled in their own field.

Several entertaining performances were presented like the Early Education’s “Little Mermaid” song and dance number and the selected grade six students with their poem recital. The Glee Club enchanted the audience by singing “We are Young”, while our Dance Troupe astounded the crowd with their lively dance number. HtoG and AMDG also had the crowd screaming with their superb dance moves. Fourth year students, Sherika Tam and Glenn Quijano, performed an amazingly choreographed Dance Sport performance. A few of our high school teachers then followed for a dance number.

Shortly after, a Mathletes Quizbowl was held at the Mini Theatre. Our high school Mathletes competed against each other in a three round Math competition. Winners are Dave Ortega’s group (first place), Joanne de la Torre’s group (second place), and Stephanie Rojo’s group (third place).

Features

by Frederic Yu

appy new year to all of you, it is 2012 and that means a new year has just bloomed. What hap-pens at the start of every year? We write down

resolutions of course. Before we go into what and how we have fulfilled our resolutions, I’ll narrate the origins of such.

A majority of scholars believe that the New Year’s Resolutions are of religious background, ranging from Baby-lonians promises to gods to return borrowed goods in the years end, to the Romans who pledge to Janus (of which January is named), to the knights of the medieval era who took “peacock vows of chivalry”, and us Catholics who wish to have self-improvement every year.

As you could guess, resolutions have been around for quite a long time. It’s not surprising that we still follow them; who wouldn’t want to gain some sort, even little im-provement. Our goals range from either small but attainable goals done periodically to downright full change of habits. Some of us succeed, others, not so much.

I noticed for as long as I have had a new year’s reso-lution, there are three common ways people like to follow their resolve. Some will try to do it with a full list all at once (with several difficult goals); others will set small goals pe-riodically (with associated time requirements), and even those who have no specific resolutions (who look for what needs to be done at the moment). Of these three types I usually follow the third style, no specifics, only a year round improvement. For me, it feels easier to succeed in a resolution when you know what you’re doing and to simply build from that every now and then, it’s calmer and less formalistic. Unfortunately it’s not necessarily for a quick paced change, rather a slow, calm, but irregular one, often for teens. This is kind of like Jeet Kun Do by Bruce Lee- the Style of No Style.

A lot of adults, prefer having results I’m sure, usually have specific attainable goals, like losing a pound monthly- that’s attainable, it makes you feel like you can do something. The only downside is that you need to actually have the time to regularly try and attain these said goals. You can’t exercise when you don’t even have time, it’s unorthodox. Sort of like having a plan thought out in every possible angle.

The most common way people have resolutions is to try and fulfill them all without a plan; it’s often only good in the short term since it is exhausting. Oftentimes people who try it this way have unattainable goals- like trying to eat healthy when you’ve almost never eaten healthy your life. It’s like trying to make a fish breathe out of water, it just dies quickly. This method seems to work only 10- 20 percent of the time (and that’s when you have a trainer or full support from your peers.)

It all goes down to effort. In order to change, one must have the will and effort to change. If I were to give myself unattainable goals with full support/attainable peri-

New Year’s Resolution

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by Frederic Yu

2012. This four-digit, three-syllable date of year has garnered universal fame and notoriety mostly because of the age-old Mayan legend prophesying a rather shock-ing and discontenting possibility set to happen in the year 2012, the year we are currently entangled in—the end of the world.

2012. The end of the world. Apocalypse. There is something quiet, poignant and eerily distant about facing the possibility of waking up one day to a dark and despair-ing world, broken and destroyed by some sort of unknown cataclysmic event. The possibility of 2012, of the end of the world paints a rather depressing picture—everything else is a quiet seething dream, a world at its end. People inca-pacitated with fear and desperation walk from one place to another in hopelessly desolate landscapes filled with aban-doned cities and dead trees. Hunger and pain have stricken the shallow and empty eyes that peer from the noiseless shadows. Everything pervades with a sickly, dead air—the trees, the mountains, and the people are colorless. The sky is always covered with thick clouds and death is littered in everything and everyone. The imagery of walking through a wrecked-up, overused world that has been destroyed and burned by the fires of humanity is a thought terrible enough to give even the bravest of men nightmares.

The prospect of Apocalypse brings on an on-slaught of surrealism and discomfort especially to peo-ple who are our own age—the possibility of our young lives, all of the dreams and hopes that accompany the tenor of our youth, suddenly destroyed, broken and taken away from us is a thing that hardly anyone could stomach. Yes, the end of the world sounds like a terribly depressing and awful possibility and it is hardly something that people as young as us should even entertain. But that is exactly what it is—an awe-full possibility. The prospect of Apocalypse is a ponderous notion that allows us to re-evaluate ourselves and change our usual peripheral per-ception of everyday life into new and more extraordinary perspectives that we are not accustomed to.

The Prospect of Apocalypse

odical goals/ timely, unspecific goals, I would fail almost instantly if I don’t even have the effort to actually complete them. There are two types of effort one gives to achieve a goal, starting it, and finishing it, without both, one will fail.

Whatever the way we try to use in order to im-prove ourselves, it’s interesting to note people still try to improve after failing multiple times. I guess we as human beings are just too stubborn to give up so easily. We still have our goals; we still have our ways, and our resolves, be safe as you are ready to fulfill them. Have a happy new year.

The potential scenario of one day waking up to nothingness, to an empty canvass of unfulfilled dreams, sti-fled by the sudden ending of life, moves us to guard all of our dreams, nurture them and eventually allow them to flour-ish to realization. Gratitude, perseverance, and the ability to look through the hardships are traits that are more easily ac-quired and accepted. The wonders that are located within are ourselves—all the potential and capabilities we possess—are immediately unlocked.

It is only when we think of the end that we discover how to begin—how to begin to see life as what it truly is; that is something to behold, to treasure, to cherish and to be grateful for, for it is filled and dotted with spectacular and wonderful moments that never fail to fill your heart with awe.

2012. The end of the world. Apocalypse. It is some-thing that every single person in this planet needs to think about for the simplest of reasons: it is necessary. It’s not be-cause it’s important. Not because it holds some sort of un-derlying, spiritual message. Not because it horrifies. Not be-cause it gets the clockworks of the mind ticking.

The prospect of Apocalypse is a thought process that stands alone.

If we allow ourselves, a few minutes to think about it, we can immediately be able to decode a tiny portion of enigma that is known as life—and ultimately unearth one of its secrets: a life is unlived if it is a life spent wallowing in fear, regrets, and unfulfilled dreams.

Another Year Wiserby Maria Lelaina R. Cardeño

hen a person reaches a certain age, the imme-diate and general perception of everyone else is that that person has gone over the hill. That

the rosy dawns of their youth and vigor have melted and faded into the pale recesses of their dim twilight years. That the numerous possibilities and experiences of life are imme-diately limited by the shackles of time and old age. At the remarkable age of eighty four however, Fr. Julian Hernando, has defied all these presumptions.

If anything, as he celebrates his eighty-fourth birth-day, he has shown us that no matter what point in your life you are in, age and time hardly matter.

He manifests this in the manner he conducts him-self in everyday life. Despite the years, he is still full of vital-ity and is able to shower everyone with profound inspira-tion. Having come this far, he smilingly acknowledges that he has no regrets. He is a man of many talents. A man with immeasurable commitment and dedication to serve. Truly, a humble servant leader — a Great Hero in our midst.

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The energy and enthusiasm he fuels into his work is unparalleled—he is currently the School Treasurer and the Director of Athletics, he has served the school for many years in various positions such as Head of the Religion De-partment, Chinese Coordinator, Guidance Counselor and Campus Minister, and he has readily accepted and embraced his role as the acting president in lieu of Fr. Manny’s absence. His love for the people around him emanates into several amplifying degrees as he regards his peers, the teachers, and the students under his care with a peaceful and effervescent presence. His resilience against the hardships of life clearly manifests as he solves and progresses through the problems of the school in a calm and patient manner. His gratefulness for life reverberates as he regards every single day as a won-derful blessing from God.

As the cake with the numbers eighty-four rolled into the stage in the gymnasium on February 13, 2012, and as his face lit up with a youthful smile, Fr. Hernando showed us a piece of one of life’s greatest secret—that just because you’ve reached a certain age does not mean that most of life’s best experiences are suddenly limited. He has proven that indeed, time and age hardly matter: it is the spirit in which you conduct yourself that does.

What a Wonderful Worldby Frederick Desmond Yu

hat was a little too quick, don’t you think? On Febru-ary 2 to 4 we had our Ecological Trip at Mambukal Mountain Resort in barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Ba-

colod City. It was both a fun and lesson-endowing experience. Everyone had an enjoyable time and many wished to have a few more days there. The Resort lies about 1,200 feet above sea level. Be-cause of the out-of-the-city location, it serves as a gateway to Mt. Kanlaon. It is said to have been built to have better experi-ences with nature, which I truly say is the truth as there was life everywhere.

The place is naturally blessed: it has several hidden waterfalls and roaming animals. For one, everyday at dawn, bats are flying everywhere, which is an amazing sight. At its center, butterflies are cultured by the hundreds. It is, and will probably always be a nature paradise.

Our trip was no vacation, we were hard at work learning, understanding, and applying the different sciences we had learned in the past. It was no ordinary set of experiments. I’m sure every-one who enjoyed the trip has gained some new found respect for nature. I myself have learned to appreciate nature better.

Even if we had several activities required of us, we also had some time to rest. The resort featured a boating lagoon, a cold spring, and a hot spring and we tried them all out. The boating lagoon was circular in shape which was about five feet deep at most. You could choose between riding solo or group.

The cold spring definitely makes me shiver. Mambukal was already cold as is, but when you enter the water- it’s even colder. The hot spring on the other hand, I believe was every-one’s favorite. It was so relaxing- one could stay there forever. When I first tried it, I felt like I was under some sort of sleeping pill: my sleep that night was the best.

Mambukal had a lot of trees around it- resulting in the cold weather, but the trees also brought out some folk tales. Our adviser constantly reminded us that we had to respect the wil-derness- since it belongs to nature, not man. I don’t believe in it though, because I believe she meant that nature is still present in the area and we must preserve it. When you’re so far from technology, there’s nothing to do but to admire nature at its fin-est.

I believe the field trip invoked change within us, not just individually but as a group. During our final night, two

He has shown that age should not be thought of as something limiting, rather it must be thought of as some-thing liberating. With the celebration of his eighty-fourth, an invariably valuable lesson has been learned—it is never too late to experience new things and to aspire for undone goals or dreams or to stop relishing in all of life’s wonders and blessings.

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Shifting to Higher Gearby Keshia Baltazar

erhaps a brand new beat of the drums is needed. Perhaps a strikingly fresh rhythm is desired. Or perchance, it is just something tugging at the back

of their minds, telling them to switch the hymn to what it is now. But it is neither.

Our new school hymn, Lux Oriens is not just about a new beat or a fresh rhythm. There is something more. Something greater than what most of us thought. Or at least that’s what our school President Fr. Manny Uy im-plied when we sat down to interview him about the school song.

people hyperventilated. My classmates acted quickly and well and from my perspective, it was amazing to see how close the class was that everyone pitched in to help at an instant’s no-tice. Even when going up the mountain, it was a long trip by van; we ended up singing in acapella because it was so boring. When one is bored, anything can happen I guess, all the bore-dom brought us closer together as a class- with friendly games and competitions, activities, and occurrences. I’m sure all the classes after the trip became closer knit.

For all those who have heard of the Eco-Trip, I can only say that it was the best field trip I’ve ever participated in. And for those interested, you won’t regret going to one.

In a room filled with chairs and a table long enough for twenty people to sit in, our school President tells us that it wasn’t because they needed a brand new beat or desired a strikingly fresh rhythm – it is because they, we, need some-thing that will fit all of us, something more encompassing, something distinctive, something that can more aptly de-scribe us all, Ateneo Hearters.

Evidently, the choice to switch to a new school song wasn’t a difficult one as we had already begun the changes when we changed our school name and it was only fitting that we would do the same with our school hymn. What made it an easier transition was the community’s reception to the new song – it was met with enthusiasm and warm welcomes.

But behind all the success are the Jesuits who helped in weaving the song together: Fr. Manoling Francisco S.J., the main composer, who collaborated with Fr. Manuel A. Uy, S.J., Bro. Ernald Andal S.J., Brother Noel Bava S.J., and Bro. Roseller Atillano S.J. Maybe it was as easy as one, two, three, but listening to the final song, makes us think that it wasn’t easy at all. After all, the hymn takes into careful con-sideration, the values of our school, the history we’ve built our success on, and the story we’ve become so animated to tell.

To say we’ve come to get used to the beat of the drums throbbing with our heartbeats, to say that this is rou-tine, falls short of what Fr. Manny feels for this hymn. It’s a song that moves him and inspires him, a song with such powerful lyrics. It’s quite splendid that fifty-six years of an institution’s history can be contained in a three-minute hymn. Now, the question is, what do we Ateneo Hearters, feel about it? Do we, as students of Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, really embody in our hearts the message of the song? Can we sing it with heads held high, voices ringing and hearts soaring? Can we truly call in our own?

This song, this hymn is who we are; it is who we have become. Beyond the labels, we are Ateneo Hearters who are called to love and to serve others. Beyond the labels, we are Ateneo Hearters who strive to become the heart of the Lord in the world. Beyond the labels, we are Ateneo Hearters who live to love and to serve the Lord, to keep hearts burning for Him. So the change in the School Hymn isn’t about the brand new beat of the drum, a strikingly fresh rhythm, or an unconscious tug at the back of the mind. No, it is instead the drive to set us apart, to challenge us to be servants of God, whatever path we may choose.

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Features

Well Wishesby by Thessa Danielle S. Teng, Maria Lelaina R. Cardeño, and Patricia Mae Amores

ith the fourth year’s graduation looming closer, we have decided to collate a few well wishes and messages from students of various year levels in

high school. These messages range from sincere, to heart-felt to endearing, but they are all ultimately dedicated to you, the Fourth Year Students, our older ates and kuyas. May you have a wonderful and meaningful journey ahead of you.

“I think that graduation is an accomplishment of free-dom and succession itself so I feel very happy and proud for all the fourth year students who are graduating. I wish them to be happy and successful in life and that they would all graduate

W with honors. I hope that they will stay true to all their goals and dreams.” —Vernice Cara Pollisco, III – Mayer

“Graduation is an ending and beginning. For many of the fourth years, I think it is the start of their independence. I hope that they are happy with whatever course they will take.” —Tess Lockey, III – Xavier

“Graduation is the reaping of the fruits of their labor, blood, sweat and tears in the best years of their lives. I

Dreams, Hopes, and Gratitudeby Jessa Gaile Paler

“What do you dream to become someday?” This question is one of the most frequent questions people ask us our whole entire lives. Who do we want to be? Where do we want to be? We all have different answers to those questions but the bottom line is that we want to be someone the world would remember for-ever. We want our names written in the stars so that people would look up to us every time. No one can deny the fact that we all dream of something. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big or small dream or even impossible ones as long as what we want to do is important. Our dreams are our secret haven when everything just goes insane and we can’t control what’s happening to reality. It is where reality and fiction meet and reality slowly fades in the air and fiction becomes our reality. When we dream, we find the solution to the problems we face in our real lives and find the one thing that we really love. In dreams we find out who we really are. Just like Cinderella said, “A dream is a wish your heart makes”, and who knows us better than our own hearts? Things go wrong everywhere you look, every-day. It’s a matter of perspective of the things you see and how you react to it. The journey of life is never easy and things would never go your way. It starts from worse to worst until we start changing it for the better. After all, there is always hope in the middle of the road to help you make it through. It may be in the form of a person, a friend or a complete stranger, or maybe an idea to push you forward. Maybe we are just running around in circles saying to ourselves that we’re walking in the right path but that the truth is that we’re just afraid of what might be in store for us after we reached our des-

tination when all the while our dreams are just right in front of us. “Keep moving forward,” that’s what Disney told us. No matter how impossible your dreams are, even if you want to literally reach the stars, you don’t stop because some person told you that you can’t do it because nobody knows what you’re capable of until you do it.

Our future lives are slowly unfolding in front of us now that we’re in high school. Most of us are un-sure of what the future would bring and some of us al-ready have it written down in black and white. But we don’t need a preacher’s mouth, Shakespeare’s hand, Ein-stein’s brain, or Da Vinci’s eye for aesthetics to be able to achieve our goals. All we need is the passion and the motivation to move beyond every obstacle that stops us from achieving our dreams and be the best we can be. They say don’t look back to the past, but I tell you, you have to look back because that’s when you find out who were there during your adventure, what you sacrificed, and how you suffered to be able to live out your dreams. I guarantee you happiness by then.

To everyone especially to the seniors, thank you for this wonderful year. Thank you for the wonderful ex-periences, the adventures, and for all the fun that came with it. We may be saying goodbye but we’ll always re-member each other and all the memories that passed. The past will never be forgotten and we’ll have those memories to look back on a rainy day. Wish you all the very best of what life might bring and may all your dreams come true.

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wish that they find what they are passionate about, will have a successful career and a meaningful life.” —Dale Clapano, III – Xavier

“Graduation is something that’s really memorable whether you’re graduating as a grade school, high school, or college student. Ei-ther way, it is never the end but a beginning to something new. I hope they find their way to what they love most.” —Pauline Talili, III – Xavier

“Graduation is where you get credit for everything you’ve worked hard for and finally proceed to a new phase of your life.I wish for all the graduating students to take this credit and make it as an inspiration, a reminder, and an opportunity to strive for the best. All for the greater glory of God.” —Janina Yu, II-Berchmans

“Graduation isan end of a big adventure and the start of an even greater one. It does not halt our adventures through this world; rather, it starts a new one. Itis a big step towards new waters. Wa-ters that we have to face just like we did at high school. My wish for the graduating 4th years is that they may have the strength and courage to face a new adventure and overcome new chal-lenges.” —Christine Labitad, II - Berchmans

“Graduation is the start of new beginning. It is when they cel-ebrate the four years of hard work. I wish that they will continue to strive for the best and be successful. I really, really hope that they will excel in their course with flying colors.” —Kirsten Lim, II - Berchmans

“Graduation is the happiness and accomplishment of all the goals once perceived. It’s exciting. And I am so glad that the fourth years will soon experience it. I hope that the fourth years will achieve their goals, fulfill their dreams and make it through life without ever falling into the path waywardly. I hope that they will always stay true to their principles.” —Maria Celina R. Cardeño, I - Brebeuf

“I think graduation is just another step for another chapter in your life. It’s a leave for the unexpected. For the seniors, thank you for being our atesand kuyas. I hope you guys find what you’d love to do for your future and success. Stay strong and keep go-ing!” —Nicola Berlin, III - Jogues

“I think graduation is sad because the seniors have to leave but I’m sure that they’ll be successful in the future. Good luck to all of you!” —Kymberly Litman, III - Pignatelli

“Graduation is the time where students harvest the fruit of their labor. Good luck, and look up ahead for a greater future. Trust God in everything that’s going to happen and remember that it is

in your hand to shape your own future.” —Bryll Yu, II - Kostka “Graduation, a day to remember. It’s the day when our old-er brothers and sisters move to the next part of their lives. It’s the day when they give their responsibilities in leading, teaching, and loving. This day marks a special moment for all the seniors. For some, it marks freedom. For others, it’s a new opportunity to change their lives for the better. It’s a day that summarizes a student’s life in school. Graduation, the next step to fulfilling ones dreams...” —Elvin Ang, III - Ogilvie

“Graduation is a start of a new face of your life. It doesn’t mean it ends things, but it signifies that you’re ready to take a step forward and face new challenges in life. Reach for your goals. Meet new people, discover more in life, learn from it, but never forget the memories that you’ve made with those people who were part of your high school life. ” —Amber Siatong, III – Southwell

“First of all, I have experienced graduation when I was in Grade 6. What I experienced was not only the end of my grade school days. I also experienced that we were welcomed in high school. What I want to say to the seniors is that in every game, there is a new level. Same as what they are, they will reach another level, which is college life. But they should not be sad that they are leaving their schoolmates, their classmates, and their teachers. Lastly, I would like to con-gratulate the graduating seniors and wish them well in their endeavor.” —Gerome Diaz, I - Bellarmine

“It’s leaving great memories behind! Now that you have yet to start another chapter in your lives as college students, may you always remember the bonds you have created, the friendships you have started, and the special but little things that you guys have done that made our school so fun and unique. These things would always stay in your hearts and will forever stay as very great memories. Congratulations and have a safe trip to another fun and exciting journey in your life.” —Celina Revalde, III - Jogues

“Graduation is the time where we look back at our lives and see what we have done in school. We look back at the great moments we had with our friends, teachers, and classmates. Dear seniors, thank you for all the things you have done for us. Thank you for being our big brothers and sisters and be-ing role models for us. Thank you for all the memories and may you be blessed in the future.” —Antonio Trinidad, III - Pignatelli

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Dear Junior, By now, you are probably aware that you are next in line to being the Alpha Dog of high school. I remember looking at the seniors and constantly thinking, “We’re next”. Your brain is probably flooded with a billion flashing memories of your high school life and then you are caught in the climax of a grand epiphany that time flies really fast and it seemed just like yesterday it was the first day of high school.

High school is perhaps one of the greatest rollercoasters of your life. You meet people and you lose people. You learn some and you live some. You look back at photos and realize how much has changed and you laugh at yourself for being so naïve once upon a time. I guess this is mainly about change. Brace yourself for it because you will be caught completely off guard before you realize how differ-ent everything has become.

Your senior year will be the best year of your high school life because it is your last. You know how you’re eating something really delicious and you’re down to the last bite, and somehow it just tastes wonderful? That’s how your senior year will feel like. It’s going to be stressful and sometimes you’re going to wish to graduate as soon as possible, but know that nothing will ever be like high school. Sometimes you just have to live in the moment. Live in that moment because all the other moments in your life will never be exactly the same.

Bask yourself on the wonderful faces of your classmates because one day, you won’t be seeing them every day any more. Smile at your teachers and tell them they’re great educators because one day you’re going to thank them for teaching you your most hated subjects. Spare some time to just love everything about school.

So to end this feeble attempt to be philosophic, I do hope you will learn to value every moment you have left. High school is something and don’t worry, you’ll survive. Give your best at everything since it is your last. Make great memories with people you love! Just enjoy it and get ready for the time of your lives. Be a good role model to the younger years because they look up to you. Think High School Musical minus the musical and cliché love stories.

Sincerely,

Zarah

Features

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The Irony of Growing Upby Elizabeth Gapas

can clearly recall how most of my childhood was filled with wonders of the adult life. The only evident thing occupying my mind was

the need to grow up. Since time machines weren’t pre-sent, I would instead grab as much crayons as my hands could hold, position them and they would dance on my sheets of paper trying to illustrate where I’d be in the next few years. Out of the drawings there were two significant ones that stood out. One was of me in high school, with multicolored hair, a head too big and a uniform too small. Another was a much advanced one where I was standing next to a white building with a big red cross on it and on me was a white lab coat that was again, too small. I guess we could all say that there were times when growing up seemed like the kind of life we’d wanted. These thoughts were most especially intensified when our parents would restrict us from doing what we wanted to do by saying “You aren’t old enough”. Now, fast-forward to the present generation of teenagers. Half of us want to go back to being kids. We think that it was so much easier being a grade-schooler. That was back when the source of all our problems was boys being gross or schedules of our cartoons show-ing way beyond our bedtime. The other half however wish that they could go even faster and skip to the days when school ends. Yes, the life of the working genera-tion. But, I’m pretty sure that when we do start work-ing we’ll wish to go back. We’ll want it easier again. We ruefully recall that the worst thing that could happen was our parents scolding us for failing a test. This is the irony of it all. We can’t wait to grow up and when we do, a lot of us wish to go back. We’re always changing as the scenery changes. What we don’t realize is how amazing we’ve progressed and grown through the experience of change.

When I think about it I become conscious of the fact that maybe the reason we always want to move backwards is because we’re afraid to face the truth of change. When we have to move forward we miss the things that we had once experienced, the simplicity

of the periods before. We want to go back to when we didn’t have to worry about the big things like money or grades. We probably didn’t even fully understand the meaning of those words. The lifestyle before seemed so comfortable and safe as compared to the hazards the outside world brings. Through all the moments when we complained about the need to grow up, we forgot to just live. We forgot to be happy. Most of all, we forgot to be thankful for the wonderful life most of us were actu-ally living. We think we have all this time on our hands but the reality of it all is that it’s actually very limited. We dwell on the future so much that most of us have forgotten to live in the now.

I completely understand though. Change really does hurt. Out of all the things I write about I don’t ab-hor writing about how things change. As much as I try to turn my face away from it, it isn’t a subject that is for-eign to me. It always seems to calm me down and give me false hope that things might not actually change. From the bottom of my heart I do know what a fallacy this is. It’s impossible for things not to progress. Every-thing will have to change sometime. You’ll just have to go on with it. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if we don’t follow the flow of change then eventually we’ll get left behind. No one wants to end up like that. I’m absolutely sure that there isn’t a person who would want to be dangling behind still deciding whether he should accept his fate while everyone else is speedily succeeding.

So instead of elaborating even more I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t live in the past. As tempting as it seems to relive the glory days, it’s never a good idea. Maybe from time to time reminiscing would be healthy. It can jog your memory of the brighter moments in life and lift your chin up a little bit more. But, instead of dwelling in those memories forever, I guess the better idea would be to take those experiences and let them help you make your present and future even greater. After all, life never gets easier; you just get stronger.

I

Features

14 | seeds

Batch 2012 Will Never Die

I guess all good things must come to an endHopefully I believe it was time well spentWhere you’ll be I’d like to knowWith thoughts too perplexed to ever show

It is quite strange, time isn’t longBut everything ends, even songThe song of High school- of great contentThe drama, and life, you thought would never end

I guess moving on is monotoneUnmoving and fixed, a metronomeThat ticks on and on, to the beat of lifeIn all your work, in all your strife

Sometimes we wonder what it’s like to be youSeniors aged closer to each one’s debut Names so fond we won’t forgetAnd memories with you- you bet!

Seniors, time has passed byIt is quite hard to say good byeBut words from sophomores just like meKnowing you fills us with glee

In a few days we will deviseA way to look you all in the eyesIn our hearts we’re proud to see you flyBatch 2012 will never die

by Frederic Desmond Yu

The End

The time’s nearing the endYou’d be gone by thenSoon you’d walk the aisleTo the end of the years worth while

You’d look back and seeAll the memories of the years that had to beAll the moments you’d never leave behindAnd the remembrance of these in your mind

by Jae Christelle Tam

The Place I Call Home

Strolling down the ramps with those bulky stroller bagsRunning around the vast, wide playgroundEating snacks during the morning breakAnd carrying little lunch boxes every lunch time

Then after those ten fruitful years, add 4 more yearsOf friends and activities and some sheer good fun!Field trips to places you have never in your life beenSome partying and awesomeness that name you all ‘teens.’

On that magical evening, you start hitting the lightsSlow dancing with your date throughout the nightNext thing you know, the crowd roars in applauseAs you and your partner win Prom King and Queen

Days have passed, and March 24 cameWhen you all stepped down the aisle and walked with school prideReceiving that diploma, shaking hands with Fr. MannySinging your graduation song like that day is your last

I, a first year student, now proudly shout,“Congratulations, seniors, for the 14 years with us,You have inspired us Ateneo Hearters with all your sac-rificeI hope, one day, you’ll look back at these wonderful mem-ories,Laugh back and say, ‘I remember and love Sacred Heart School- Ateneo de Cebu, the place I call home.’”

by Reanne Jeanne Go

It’ll be sad to see you goBut we know it’s for the bestYou’ve been the best and the greatestAnd we’ll miss you so

It’s time for a new chapter of your lifeNew friends, new laughter, new strifeFrom us juniors we bid farewellTo the greatest seniors we’ve known so well

Literary

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Literary

16 | seeds

Regional Schools

aging isang magandang ikot ng panahon ang taong 2011. Naging isang maligayang taon rin ito para sa Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu sa

dami ng tagumpay na nakamit nito. Sa taon ring ito ang un-ang pagkakataon na lumahok ang ating paaralan sa Press Conference, isang paligsahan na pinamumunuan ng Depar-tamento ng Edukasyon o ang DepEd. Dito, pinapakita ng mga lumalahok ang kanilang kakayahan sa pagsulat, pag-ulat, at pagguhit ng balita.

Ginanap ang Division Level ng Press Conference sa Mandaue City Central Elementary School noong ika-16 ng Nobyembre. Maraming paaralan ang nakilahok sa Division Level pa lang. Hindi naman namin inaasam na makaka-pasok kami sa Regional. Napansin ko kasi karamihan sa am-ing mga kasabayan ay sanay na sanay na. Maraming beses na sila nakasali nito. Kaya naman nang malaman namin ang resulta, parang hindi kami makapaniwala. Apat kaming na-kapasok sa Regional Press Conferencce . Malaki ang aming pasasalamat sa Diyos sa pagpapatnubay Niya sa amin sa Division Level.

Ang mga nanalo sa Division Press Conference : Hannah Tidalgo, III-Xavier, Photo Journalism- Filipino), Jennise See - IV- Loyola, News Writing- Filipino, Keshia Baltazar IV- Faber, Feature Writing-English, at Kristoff Jamiro IV- Loyola, Photo Journalism –English.

Naging kapana-panabik sa amin ang paglahok na-man sa Regional Press Conference na ginanap naman sa Dumaguete City, Disyembre 6-9,2011. Noong una ay nagda-lawang-isip kami dahil ito ay panahon na nalalapit ang 3rd Quarter Periodical Exam ngunit sinamantala namin ang na-pakagandang opurtunidad na ito. Kaya natuloy kami kasa-ma nina Ms. Edgermi Gerasta at Gng. Mary Jane Pañares.

Ito ang una kong pagkakataon na makasakay ng barko. Ito rin ang unang paglalakbay ko sa ibang lugar na malayo sa Cebu at sa aking mga magulang. Magkahalong takot at pananabik ang aking nadama nang kami umalis pa-tungo ng Dumaguete City. Inisip ko kung makakayanan ko kaya ang pagkawalay ng apat na araw sa aking pamilya.

Ika-6 ng Disyembre madaling-araw nang dumating kami sa piyer na kaharap lamang ng Silliman University, isa

sa sikat na paaralan sa Visayas. Sinundo kami ng isang jeep at hinatid kami sa paaralang kung saan kami mananatili. Medyo nung una nagulat kami sa tirahan kasi sa isang klas-rum. Inaalala namin kung papaano makakatulog, maliligo at kakain. Siguro dahil hindi kami sanay sa ganitong klaseng pamamaraan. Lumipas ang ilang oras hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang problema, naging maayos naman pala ang lahat. Para lang nga kaming naglaro ng bahay-bahayan.

Ang isang napakaganda at nakaaaliw na karanasan namin ay nung sumali kami sa parada na umulan pa. Pag-katapos naman ay nasaksihan namin ang Opening Ceremo-ny na nakita namin ang iba’t ibang delegasyon ng bawat re-hiyon. Sa araw naman ng paligsahan naging kakakaba-kaba ito habang hinihintay mo yung oras. Nagkaroon din naman kami ng pagkakataon na makapaglibot ng Dumaguete City na maliit lang pala ang syudad na ito. Sa unang araw ng pa-ligsahan, nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataon na maglibang sa Dumaguete sa umaga, dahil sa hapon ay magkakaroon ng parada at Opening Ceremony. Hindi ko malilimutan na sa McDonalds kami una kumain nang amin almusal sa unang araw sa Dumaguete.

Simple lamang ang lugar ng Dumaguete ngunit makikita at mararanasan mo rito ang mga magagandang ba-gay. Siyempre pa sikat sila sa pinakamasarap na “Sansrival” at “Sylvannas”. Napakaganda naman ng “The Boulevard” na sikat na pasyalan doon lalo na pag gabi. Isa siyang pasyalan sa tabing dagat na may makukulay na ilaw sa gabi at may mga “pika-pikang” pagkain gaya lamang ng tempura, fish ball, mani atbp.

Hindi man namin nauwi ang tagumpay, nadala naman namin ang di matutumbsang karanasan. Tunay na isang malaking pagkakataon itong naibigay sa amin. Ginawa naman namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya, maaaring di nga siguro sapat ngunit maipagmamalaki pa rin namin ito bilang kinatawan ng ating paaralan at ng Mandaue Division. Marami pang ibang pagkakataon at titiyakin namin sa su-susnod na Press Conference, mapa-local man o regional at lalo na sa national iuuwi namin ang karangalan.

Palagi nating tandaan na ang pagtatagumpay ay hindi lamang sa isang pagsubok makakamit, kundi sa milyon-milyong pagsubok na darating pa. - AMDG.

N

ni Hannah Lois Tidalgo

20

Filipino

seeds | 17

ka-apat na taon ko na ngayon sa hayskul, sa madal-ing salita, huling taon ko na sa Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. Dahil dito, naisip kong sulitin ang

mga huling buwan ko sa paaralang ito. Sumali ako sa la-hat ng mga bagay na pwede ako. Isa na roon ang Division Schools Press Conference.

Noong una ay wala talaga akong kaalam-alam tung-kol sa paligsahang ito. Nakasali lamang ako dahil napili ako bilang representante ng departamento ng Filipino sa pag-sulat ng balita. Nagsanay ako nang nagsanay. Araw-araw ay nag-iisip at pinag-aaralan ko ang tungkol sa paglikha ng magandang balita.

Dumating din ang araw na kami ay sasalang sa kompetisyon, ika-16 ng Nobyembre noon. Pagdating na pagdating pa lamang namin sa Mandaue City Central School ay halatang kabado na kami. Unang pagkakataon kasi naming makasali sa ganitong klaseng paligsahan. Sa buong araw ng iba’t ibang paligsahan ay nagampanan namin ang aming tungkulin at natapos ang araw ng hindi man lamang namin alam kung sino ang nanalo.

Matapos ang ilang araw ay nalaman ko na la-mang sa e skwelehan na nanalo ako. Pangatlo ako sa paglikha ng balita. Ni minsan ay hindi ko naisip na mananalo ako. Lalo pa akong natuwan nang malaman ko na ang top five raw ay ipadadala sa Dumaguete City upang lumahok sa Regional Schools Press Conference. Nais kong pumunta sa Dumaguete ngunit nag-alangan ako. Ang kompetisyon kasi ay magaganap halos isang ling-go at nalalapit pa ang ikatlong markahang pagsusulit. Mata-gal akong nag-isip at nakapunta nga ako sa Dumaguete.

Dumating na ang araw ng aming pag-alis. Sumakay kami ng isang barko patungong Dumaguete. Ang pagsakay pa lamang sa barko ay isa na sa mga hindi ko malilimutang alaala. So sobrang kasabikan ko ay hindi ako makatulog. Mag-uumaga na noong kami ay dumating. Nanibago ako sa lugar dahil hindi ako sanay na maglakbay na hindi kasama ang aking pamilya.

Noong nagsimula ang paligsahan, takot na takot ako. Nakita ko kasi na ang dami namin at lima lamang ang pipiliin. Naisip ko na bahala nang hindi ako manalo basta

gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya.

Dumating ang araw ng paghirang ng mga nanalo. Tiniis namin ang init at sikip upang marinig lamang ang mga nanalo. Sa kasawiang palad ay wala sa amin ang nanalo. Umuwi man kaming talunan ay para sa akin, panalo pa rin kami dahil ni minsan ay hindi ko inisip na makakarating ako sa Regionals. Bigo man sa paligsahan ay nagkaroon na-man kami ng karanasang walang kapalit.

I

ni Jennise Ann See

Press Conference11

Filipino

18 | seeds

Viva Pit Señor!

uli, ang pinakamalaking pagdiriwang ng Cebu, ang Sinulog Festival, ay idinaos na, at hindi ko pinalampas ang pagkakataong ito upang makiisa

sa selebrasyon. Hindi na bale ang ulan, ang init ng araw, ang mga taong nagsidagsaan, at ang mabigat na trapiko sapagkat ito ang Sinulog, ang isa sa mga mahahalagang relihiyosong pagdiriwang.

Taon-taon, kasama ko ang aking pamilya sa paki-kiisa sa Sinulog Festival. Ito ang isa sa mga selebrasyong hinihintay at inaasam-asam ng lahat. Sa tuwing sumasapit ang Sinulog, ang pamilya namin ay nagsasama-sama upang sabay-sabay namin itong ipagdiwang.

Sa taong ito, nagtipon-tipon kaming magkaka-pamilya at sama-sama kaming nakiisa sa Sinulog Festival. Nagpasalamat kami at binigyang pugay namin ang Sr. Sto. Niño. Kami ay nagdasal at nagsimba. Naging masaya na-man ang selebrasyon na iyon. Isa sa mga inaabangan namin ay ang Street Dancing Parade. Napakaraming tao ang nag-dagsaan sa mga kalye upang mapanood ito. Isa ako sa mga taong iyon. Noong araw na iyon, napakaraming tao ang na-kiisa sa sayawan at ang mga deboto ay sumisigaw ng “Pit Senyor!” Ang mga kalahok ay nagsuot ng mga makukulay na mga kasuotan. Nakita rin namin ang mga karosang may iba’t-ibang palamuti pati na rin ang mga magagandang mga higante. Dito lumalabas ang pagiging malikhain ng mga Pilipino. Ang malakas na tunog ng musika at ng mga instru-mento ay nagbibigay buhay sa selebrasyong ito. Kitang-kita ang pagsisiksikan ng mga tao.

Mni Caryl Remilla

Hakbang Palapit sa Pangarap

Sa apat na taong pagsisikap,Ang makatapos ang tanging pangarap.Ang paghihintay ay nalalapit.Anong damdamin ang nakahihigit?

Ang kasayahan ay di maitatagoNg bawat estudyanteng aakyat sa entablado.Nakakaginhawang isipin,Ang mga pangarap tila’y malayo aabutin.

Halatang malungkot ang lahat,Panahong ginugol ay di sapat.Magwawakas man ang buhay hayskul,Pagkakaibigang nabuo kailanman di mapu-putol.

Ang karanasan ay tandaan,Mga natutunan ay pahalagahan.Mga pangarap na nais makamit,Ating tadhana, tayo ang tanging umuukit.

ni Raissa Avery Marfa

Ang lahat ay nakikiisa sa pagsisiyahan kahit nasa ilalim pa ng sikat ng araw. Nakakapagod rin ang araw na iyon. Ang pawis, pagkagutom, at pagkauhaw ay tiniis namin. Saan man ako tumingin, nakita ko ang mga taong may mga tattoo at pinta sa kanilang mga mukha’t katawan. Bata man o matanda, kitang-kita na ang lahat ay masayang nagdiwang ng Sinulog Festival. Umulan man o umaraw, tuloy pa rin ang selebrasyon.

Ang Sinulog ay isang natatanging pagdiriwang. Magulo at nakakapagod man ang selebrasyong ito, ang lahat ay masaya pa rin at matagumpay itong naidaos.

Huwag sana nating kalimutan na may mas higit pa na kabuluhan ang selebrasyong ito. Hindi lamang ito ipinagdiri-wang upang tayo’y magsaya at magsayawan. Ang higit na mas importante ay inaalay natin ang lahat ng ito kay Sr. Sto. Niño. Sana’y lagi natin itong tandaan. Hanggang sa susunod na Si-nulog, Viva Pit Senyor!

Filipino

seeds | 19

Paalam Na

eto na, ang aking pagpapaalam sa aking paaralang Sacred Heart –Ateneo de Cebu. Ang paaralang ito na halos siyam na taon kong naging pangalawang tahanan, ang Sacred Heart School- Ateneo de Cebu.

Tandang-tanda ko pa nga noong nasa elementarya pa lamang ako, paglalaro lang talaga ang nasa isip ko. Laro nang laro lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa mga usong laro tulad halimbawa ng Japanese, patintero, ice-ice water at iba pa.

Tapos ay hindi ko na namalayan na nasa hay-skul na pala ako. Dalaga na raw ako dahil malaki na ang ipinagbago ko. Iba na talaga ang paggalaw ko at ang mga galaw ng aking mga kamag-aaral. Napansin ko rin na iba n rin ang pakikitungo ng mga guro sa hayskul kung iku-kumpara sa elementarya. Pero bilang isang estudyante sa hayskul, natutunan kong tanggapin ang mga pagbabagong ito.

Ngayong tapos na ako sa hayskul panahon na para magpaalam upang harapin ang mas malaking hamon sa ak-ing buhay. Ganunpaman kahit magpapaalam na ako, hind-ing-hindi ko malilimutan ang lahat ng aking mga karanasan sa hayskul. Sabi nga nila pinaka-best daw ang high school life. Masasabi ko ngang totoo ito dahil marami akong mga di-mal-ilimutang karanasan. Oo naman maaaring hindi nga puro kasi-yahan ang aking napagdaanan ngunit parte pa rin ito ng buhay ko at hindi ko ito maisasantabi.

TAG

Isa sa hindi ko malilimutan ay ang pag-audition ko sa grupong TAG (Theat-ers Arts Guild). Takot na takot pa ako noon sa mga hurado nang ako’y umarte na. Nang ma-tanggap ako sa grupo lalong dumami ang aking mga kaibigan.Isa sa ikinagalak ay

nun gaming pagtatanghal “Catharsis” kung saan ilang araw naming itong pinaghandaan. Sa am-

ing pagprapraktis mas lalo kong nakilala ang grupo. Masasabi ko na dahil sa TAG nawala ang aking pagkamahiyain.

GLEE

Ang pagsali ko sa Glee Club ay hindi ko talaga inasahan. Nalaman ko lang na may auditions at sumali na rin ako kahit hindi ako handa. Sa awa naman ng Diyos nakapasa ako baga-mat nagdalawang-isip din ako. Natakot kasi ako

na baka hindi ko makaya na mapagsabay ang mga Gawain sa Glee at TAG. Pero nakaya ko rin naman. Dito sa Glee napalabas ko ang hilig ko sa pag-awit. Malaki ring pagbabago ang nagawa sa akin ng grupong ito.

GSP (Girl Scouts of the Philippines)

Noon pa man gusto ko na talagang maging parte ng “Leader’s Elite”. Nakita ko kasi na may magandang sa-mahan ang mga girl scouts. Kaya sumali ako sa train-ing noong nasa ikalawang taon pa lamang ako. Isang malaking pagsubok talaga ang pagsali ko rito. Nag-ing pintuan ito upang mas maunawaan ko ang kapa-tiran. Marami akong na-tutunan sa pangkat na ito

lalo na ang pakikipagkapwa at tunay na pagtulong.

LOYOLA

Ito ang malaking parte ng aking pagiging hayskul na kasama ang ak-ing mga kaklase sa Loy-ola. Para na kasi kaming pamilya dahil karamihan sa kanila ay naging kasa-ma ko na mula pa nung sa elementarya pa lang. Ang aming samahan ay para na rin relasyon sa pamilya. Hindi man maganda ang lahat ng aming pinagdaananan alam kong nalagpasan naming ang mga pagsubok tulad pa rin ng anu-mang relasyon. Ang kagandahan ng grupong ito tanggap nila ako kung anuman ako gaya ng pagtanggap ko kung sinuman sila.

Magkakahiwa-hiwalay man kami, may kanya-kanya kaming destinasyon pagdating sa kolehiyo, alam kong mag-kikita-kita pa rin kami. Panahon lang ang makapagsasabi. Ang pagpapaalam ko sa buhay hayskul di nangangahulugang

mawawala na ang lahat.Tatatak na sa aking puso at isi-pan ang mga bagay na natutunan ko rito. Ang SHS-AdC ay ikalawa kong tahanan at mga tao rito ay akin ng kapamilya.

Hni Alexe Diane Te

Filipino

Comic Stripby Karl Derick Sia and Maxine San Jose