You Taught Me Well

HS Dept. – Fe Eliza Joy R. Sancho (Fourth Year H.S., SEC)

You’ve taught me to feel happiness. And, in order to accept true happiness is to accept that the way things are, are the way things are.

You taught me how to live, to dream infinitely, to take every step forward and overcoming the fear that the next step to take might be one of our great downfalls. Through all these years, you’ve come to make me believe that life is a wonderful field of beauty and magic, my very magic. You’ve taught me that the illusions of despair and the ugliness of sadness and the absence of love and all of those scary things that destroys such wonderful perspectives of life is nothing but challenges, trials, and tests we need to surpass in order to feel the happiness that comes after it. You’ve taught me many things, and you taught me well.
I remember every painful fall I’ve underwent. Every wound, every scratch and every sting of these scarce damages to my being, you have taught me that time may take time to heal these but that shouldn’t stop us from moving forward and never backing down.

At every stumble to the ground, I can cry – you said. I can scream. I can just stop trying to control everything and let go. And, after my tears dry up and the voice once so loud has calmed, I should stand up and keep moving forward. Don’t mind the pain; don’t mind the things that keep you from just moving forward.
You’ve taught me that the tracks behind me are just lessons and memories we’ve learned and treasured from the past no matter what, but still a book never to be opened once again.

You are my whole existence, my whole being. Because, you, my dear experiences, are one of my greatest teachers in life.

You’ve taught me good, and you taught me well.
You’ve taught me that the whole world may leave me, even my shadow may abandon me in the dark, but that isn’t a reason to do the same to others. To have a friend is to be one, yourself. Just like having to trust someone. People may say that no one is perfect, and there are no permanent things on Earth – so why bother minding things that can cause your downfall? Why take the risks and consequences of wasting time and tears and all these precious time to such worldly non-sense?

You gave me one of the greatest answers.

You taught me that… There is not one being on Earth who hasn’t gone through hardships and the spikes I’ve gone through. And, therefore, I’ve found the peace within me; happiness covers my heart all at once after every tear. This is because I faced all these things moving forward with my head up high. I took the risks, I surpassed the consequences.
I’m not much, but I’ve made it through. And, so, you taught me that we’ll never know happiness unless we seek it ourselves, unless we take on all these challenges laid before us. You’ve taught me that… the best things in life always come after the worst. And, that if things seems uglier than normal, make the best out of it – learn to pray, seek Him, and we shall find what we seek.
My great teacher, my life, you have taught me to live and you taught me well.

I believe that each and every person you pass everyday teaches you something about life, about love, about happiness and peace. I call them teachers, I call them great mentors. And, my experiences have taught me appreciation of all these small things, all these tiny bits of pieces that little by little fill in the empty spaces in my life. That is why one of my great teachers is my experiences in life. I have become into who I am because of the things I went through, and life taught me well.

You don’t have to be big or small, old or young, or wise or dumb to say you are great. How about me? I am not much, but I have come this far in life because of my great teacher. I’ve been taught well, and I learned well. Have you?

How Do I?

I admit, this isn't the first time I fell in love. In fact, this is the third time I did.. but it's for real.

I met him last year. Specifically, September. He's one of the students from that school I just transferred to then. It was all well. I feel for him as he did. Everything was normal, challenges.. Hard trials. But, this one's coming along and.. I think its trying to test me. Yet, please, help me! IT HURTS LIKE HELL!

You know, he's one of those guys I thought never existed anymore. Those guys that treat their girlfriends like princesses? Call them just to know how they are and say "I love you"? Carry them when they're tired walking? Follow her around when she's mad? Hug her tight when they feel something wrong? Got to her house just to take a glimpse at her? Please! Believe me! The man I just fell in love with is all that. Just thinking about everything he's done for me!? I may say.. "I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM!" People, I love him so much! Is it bad? Am I too deep? What?

Can someone tell me, is it wrong to shed tears now whenever I see him just because I know in my freakin' head he's going to be away for college sooner or later? Can anyone tell me if its wrong that I feel so weak, I just feel like I can't stand at all, just because of those thoughts? Is it wrong to feel bad?

Guys, its killing me. And I don't know what to do.. I love him. :'(

The Big Picture: Who’s To Blame?

It’s a horrible scene to remember the Philippines as after the hostage-taking scheme. But it is exaggerated and conceited to define the Filipinos as barbaric people and soulless, heartless, cold-blooded murderers. The hostage-taking is another lesson to guide the future, not another trigger to start World War III.

Having easy access to the internet, I was updated with the opinions of different people regarding the hostage-taking drama at Quirino Grandstand last August 23rd, 2010. It was a unforgettable scene for many and a tragic memory to be recorded into the Philippine history and people’s journal’s everyday. Things like this can happen anywhere, why can’t we just expect for the better and accept the schemes that happened and move on?

Through watching the news, listening to opinions and observing reactions, I have come to realize what I stand for.

On the side of the Chinese, I understand their reactions towards this incident. Yes, their countrymen got killed. Eight lives were taken! But, with all due respect, look back – I don’t remember the Filipinos declaring war when hundreds of children died due to the toxic chemicals mixed with the toys they made. I don’t remember the Filipinos hating the Chinese after the disaster that happened to many Filipinos who got killed because of the toxic chemicals in the factory. I can’t recall the Filipinos discriminating the whole race of the Chinese when Melamine killed not only Filipinos but also other races. A mistake one person made stays with only one. I am not giving the blame to them now. I am just showing them how the Filipinos understood no matter how awful they took lives, for them to see that not all Filipinos are the same. We are of the same race, but we are all not the same people.

Some Filipinos are now ashamed and disgusted with their own race. I think this is exaggerated. Why? They couldn’t do anything about it, anyway. They’re already born Filipinos. In my opinion, acting like this just proves more to the Chinese that we are what they say we are. Guilt is okay to be felt, but totally denying your own race? That’s discriminating who you are. Coming to think of it, I love being a Filipino. For what reason? Because I actually know that a real Filipino is righteous, open-minded and understanding. Even right now, I am proud still to be a Filipino – but I am disappointed they even consider themselves Filipinos.

My point is, not that I am defending Rolando Mendoza, but why put all the blame on him? Because he started it? But it already happened and he doesn’t have all the faults, right? How about Mayor Alfredo Lim? He gave out unclear orders. Why not blame the head of the Police and S.W.A.T. Team? He sent the unprepared and unprofessional men. Why not blame the hostages for going wild and hysterical, not co-operating with Mendoza? That’s another scene, by the way. Were there any cameras in the bus? How did the media know that it was really Mendoza who killed the hostages? What if it was the exchanging of bullets by the police and Mendoza that killed the hostages? What your eyes can’t see can be easily manipulated with lies. Why not blame the media for triggering Mendoza’s anger? Why did they have to air live how Mendoza’s brother was dragged like a pig inhumanly? What were they up to?

In my mind right now, I am assuming that someone wanted this scheme to happen, however. I am not only referring to Mr. Rolando Mendoza.