Sunday, February 19, 2012

Stoplights

Posted by CATH at 3:31 PM 0 comments


I just felt like taking photos of these cute jelly aces. These were given by the retreat house yesterday morning during our breakfast. These are sort of "remembrance" from the retreat house. And our two-day Retreat, from Friday morning till yesterday morning, might be the last time we'd be able to visit Betania (the retreat house) but hopefully, if we will have a chance, we'll be visiting the place again. Will be missing the place, most especially the dormitory and the session hall :")

Pink fishy

Posted by CATH at 3:14 PM 0 comments
February 14, 2012, 8:45 PM. Captured with Mom's Samsung camera.
This little pink key chain has been hanging on my pen case for this whole time since Tuesday, the day when it was given to me. We had the Valentine-Valentine thingy during Physics time, which took 50 minutes out of the 80 minutes meant for the subject. And unexpectedly, my Valentine was one of my close friends (but not superduper close), Rubi (we call her by her last name). She actually distributed a cute and delicious chocolate munchkin on each of our armchairs earlier that day and then she gave me a rose and the cute key chain with a letter. It was honestly the best thing I'd received that day.


Captured today at 12:34 PM. Edited with Photoscape.

Gone were the awesome days

Posted by CATH at 9:33 AM 0 comments


Last week was a totally awesome week despite a few downs and dramas. I would've posted a new blog entry within the previous week but since I had a really hectic schedule filled with homework, paperworks, projects and our 2-day Retreat, I summed up the 3-hour event on the Wednesday of my February week number 3.



Top: Sci Con 2012 board design; Middle: Sci Con 2012 Invitation; Bottom: 3 representatives from 10-Concern

Last Wednesday, we had our Science Congress, showcasing the top five Investigatory Projects out of approximately 75 projects from the whole batch. It was pretty impressive for my class since all of our representatives from the IP Elimination Round (three reps per section during the Elim. Round) made it to the Science Congress, with a pair from another class and a pair from the other class. My IP partner and I ended up as part of the top five (thankfully!) and were the last ones to present. And dang, all I was thinking at that time was how to answer possible questions, and of course I reminisced what had occurred during our "IP adventures" which include:

    •  More-than-five times jeepney rides in a day during weekends
    •  A very epic-fail experiment during the Christmas break
    • The afternoon-sacrificed days wherein we did the experiment instead of studying for the exams
    • Four-time epic fail in submitting a letter to utilize a certain equipment in USC
    • And most importantly: asked big help from my previous Chemistry teacher (who is currently a Math teacher in the first and third years) since he was totally knowledgeable of our IP.

We did well, even our Physics teacher commented. Yet we didn't make it to the top three placers. But it was as if we were winners since a co-class-representative pair won as first placer. But I admit I was a little jealous because of the mere fact that I didn't place, even third, even though it was already my third time [in a row] to be part of the Congress. But even though, I like this kind of experience, which may add to my experiential learning moments.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Paradox of Life

Posted by CATH at 6:44 AM 0 comments
Our English teacher shared this to us in class yesterday. And here I am, sharing this to whoever is interested to read.

Paradox of Life

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but
have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller
families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less
sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too
little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too
much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a
living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've
been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street
to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've
done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but
polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write
more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to
rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to
produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods, and slow digestion, big men and small
character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of
two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are
days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night
stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to
quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and
nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to
you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just
hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going
to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your
side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is
the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but
most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from
deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to
speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Rachmaninoff

Posted by CATH at 11:17 PM 0 comments
 

Had music lessons today and my piano teacher informed me that the piece (shown above) was supposed to be the one that I will be playing during the recital instead of Agitation by Mendelssohn (I hope I spelled it right). Prelude in C# Minor by Rachmaninoff was beautifully played by my teacher. It was at first really slow, then came the faster part but still remains the mysterious aura of the music. If I will be able to master the piece in less than a month (Recital will be on March 4 xD), then this will be the piece that I'll be playing, which somehow is a 50-50 thing. Half possible, half not. With a lot of last-few-weeks-as-a-senior circumstances, my days are filled with events.

Anyway, back to work! Still have to finish that English paperwork about Age of Enlightenment :)

Monday, February 6, 2012

Magnitude 6.9

Posted by CATH at 9:17 PM 0 comments
I learned a valuable lesson today: live the day as if it were your last.

It all started during our Catholic Life Formation class wherein we were talking about our mothers and our unforgettable experiences with them. We all bursted into tears when we heard stories from our classmates. I then realized how important my mom is, though I hate her sometimes, but still. I admit that I can't live without her and my dad, too.

Then during our Computer class, we were talking about the "future" and how technology will be dominant in our world, most especially in all educational institutions. Our teacher shared about La Salle having Tablets instead of computers and books. And we really went "whoooooooa!" with all the information she shared.

Then lunch time. At 11:49 AM in the school cafeteria ground floor. As I was about to be settled on a table with my lunchmate, the ground started to shake, the lights flickered, and everyone panicked. And I didn't have time to go out first with everyone inside yet. As a member of the school's disaster management team, I had to let the students and teachers evacuate first and make sure they're all safe and calm. Good thing I wasn't the only DMT member around.

Then we all went out and allowed the students from the second floor to move down fast. Then I went to one of the evacuation sites, the school grounds, and started to double check if everyone was around. Some were crying, some still had food on their mouths, but one couldn't wipe off the shock from their faces.

When we were all settled, we prayed as one institution.

Thereafter, we went back to our normal lunch period-ness. After taking my lunch, I went back to the classroom with some of my classmates and fellow DMT members. What alerted us was when our class president noted to us the still-shaking electric fans inside. Though we didn't feel any ground shaking, the fans were dangerous in our eyes because if those would swing harder, then they might fall down, STRAIGHT to the seat of our class president which was one chair away from mine.

What was more interesting and terrifying was the floor of a neighboring fourth year classroom. A part of it elevated and it was as if the two parts of their floor was to overlap one another. I swear it was a perfect model for continental drift. Then news spread in our corridor that there was a leak on the wall of a grade 4 classroom and a leak on the floor of a first year classroom, which was something I didn't verify today yet.

Then, the fans started to violently shake. An aftershock, oh my goodness! People on the second floor, and I mean ALL PEOPLE on the second floor, started to panic and did the duck-cover-hold gesture and started running down the stairs which caused the people on the ground floor to panic as well. Many were crying, many were hyperventilating and I swear we were running out of paper bags and eucalyptus oil to relax the students.

We all prayed and I would've had knelt. Seriously. We all needed guidance and strength from God for what had happened earlier. After praying the Rosary, some DMT members were tasked to inspect the building with some appointed teachers. The remaining members were asked to proceed to the Information office where parents started to flock to fetch their children. We were given with departure slips and asked to give them to the students in question and send and accompany them to the office for them to be fetched. It was an amazing experience. The departure part, not the earthquake. We were like real-life Rescue Team of some sort. Running along the hallways, going up and down the stairs, and carrying the bags and strollers of crying children.

Two hours later, I decided to go back to our classroom to rest. When I arrived, our class adviser and classmates told me that my father was waiting for me in the Information office. I actually talked to him and told him to fetch me at 4 PM instead since we had to let the other students evacuate first before the DMT members could leave (according to my co-member). And then, we had a little chitchat and all that stuff and then, people by the other side of the building started to get their things and move. We were confused since we didn't feel any ground shaking. But then, it was another thing that crashed our worlds: tsunami alert.

People started to break down and cry, including me. I live near SRP which was beside the sea. I was having paranoid thoughts about the safety of my mother and of my driving father. I SHOULD'VE WENT HOME :( But no, there I was, crying with my seatmates who lived near me and who has relatives living near me. But we didn't have any more time to loose. We let the younger students evacuate to the grounds and other evacuation sites and swear almost all of us were crying and parents were allowed to go inside to look for their children.

We were all settled after minutes of praying and crying. The administration let a parent who passed by SRP and just arrived to announce that there was no such thing as tsunami. There was no movement on water. That really relieved all of us.

Today was something extraordinary. Aside from the coincidence that during our graduating year (2008, we were grade 6. 2012, we are fourth year) there would be an earthquake, it was a life-changer and a mindset-changer. Many said thankyou's and sorry's and farewell speeches in FB groups and text messages tonight since the ground vibrated, like, thrice.

We all don't know what lies ahead. And the earthquake phenomena proved it. We all have to be prepared, have to say all the things to everyone how much we love them, how much we are grateful to meet them, and all that kind of stuff for tomorrow may not come.
 

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