The End

From the beginning, people have done nothing but fear the end of the world. You, if I ask you, I'm certain you would answer back that somehow, inside you, you fear it as well. But, come on people, when have predictions about this come true?

The most recent failed prediction was that the world will end in 2000. I even heard the news that satanists were running rampant back then. I even heard something about a family selling everything that they had except the clothes on their backs and the shoes on their feet because they feared that the world will end.

The most public prediction nowadays is that the world will end on the twenty-first of December in 2012. But c'mon, who honestly believes the predictions of the doomsday soothsayers? God forbid! the mayans were making a calendar, not some doomsday prediction.

And now, according to something I watched on the topic, even an internet program is predicting the same thing. But, who the heck cares? I mean, I betcha this will be the scenario on the twenty first of December in 2012.

[Newscast]

This just in, the world is expected to end in just a few hours. People are advised to seek shelter wherever they can...

... Any minute now...

Any second...

I'm telling you, the world will end in a few!...

This just in, scientists have discovered the REAL date for the end of the world

I mean, If you were a religious person, you would not listen to this crap right? I mean, who in the right senses would attempt to know WHEN the world will end. Dear Lord! I think it's better to not know, because if you knew then you would live every day in fear of what is coming.

For me, I refute the theories about the end of the world. They may be good for shits and giggles, a few laughs, and interesting debate topics. But trust me, it's a waste of precious time to actually try to find WHEN the world will end. Like in the bible, It says that not the angels in heaven, not the saints, not even the Son, ONLY the Father knows.

Who are we, but mere mortals? We don't dictate our fate. So, guys, I ask you now, Do YOU believe these theories?

Friends, Families, YES!! Photos? NO WAY!!

Okaaay... I might not have mentioned how much I hate getting my picture taken. A reason for why I went WTH?! when I read the required entries for our blog project. However, even if I TERRIBLY despise having my picture taken, there are a few cases that it's okay with me. The picture on the left shows my family, In order from the left: Carlo, my younger brother; Me; Maximo, my father; Virginia, my mother; and Ate Cay, my older sister.

This was, of course, taken last christmas, after we had moved into our new home in chrysanthemum.

Good Lord! I have no personal pictures. Well, this is due to the fact that I HATE cameras. And that I simply don't like how I look in pictures. However, there is this one picture I can never forget. It was taken in our section's farewell party at the Las Villas clubhouse. It was taken with the person I consider a sister in all but blood and my closest friend and confidante. Toldja, I hate pics. haha, but this one was a special one. :)

I don't think I have any more to show you... haha, that's all. I never ever show up in pictures. If you ask my classmates, I wasn't visible in the wacky version of our class picture last year! Well, that's all for now!

We are a Family

This is my family. I have two sister, one is older and the other is younger than me. My mom is a housewife while my dad is a seaman that is why whenever he comes home, we make sure that we make most of the time that we have to visit places. Yeah, we enjoy visiting other places, a lot. We've gone to Pagudpud, Ilocos, Calatagan, Boracay, Bicol, Sorsogon and many more. We love to go tripping.



You might be wondering why we chose to visit places here in the Philippines than in other countries, well, the reason behind it is that, before we go and visit other countries (which we are planning to do soon) we should try to appreciate first the ones we have here in our own country.

Yup, that's ONE of our dogs, we have 5 more. We consider them as our family. ahahahahaha We love dogs.

25 Years, Soaring High

I know that we can neither judge an institution from the length of time since it was established, nor on how big its population is and certainly not on how large the area it occupies. What matters is the quality of education and the good environment that it offers to the students. And as what I can say, Colegio San Agustin has provided all of these to students for almost 25 years.
It has been ten years since the first day I stepped in this school. Many things have changed since then, a lot of improvements have happened, new buildings were made, hallways have been perked up and the gardens were all at its best , but still the kind of education it offers students remain the same.

I am not saying that it is the best event that happened in my life because I’m still in the middle of it, but the best event, yet. It happened during our grade school days, we were at grade 6 then, it was during the graduation ceremony. I was awarded with first honors and some others. It’s not the award that made this event the best but the feeling of fulfillment in my life, thinking that all my endeavors paid-off and all the hardships I have faced were all worth it. It was really the best experience.

Well, I’m already at my second year of high school and I still am adjusting to the new environment this higher level of education has. Delighted but a bit sad, for this year, we have new classmates and teachers and a whole new journey to undertake, but having new classmates means that we get to bid goodbye to some, well, it’s not really goodbye at all because we’ll still be schoolmates and friends, yup I really wish that even though they are in a different class we’ll all remain as friends. Let our friendship be tested by time, just like how it tested our institution, through thick or thin.

Guided by our patron saint, St. Augustine, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of our Lord, may our institution grow and continue its service. Soar High, Augustinians!

Books are friends...

Books take you places beyond your wildest dreams. A statement that holds true, staring deeply into the eyes of the ravages of time. Books, or written literature, has entertained mankind for centuries. I believe it's only natural to actually, READ them. Anyway, here are my top three books.

Coming in third place:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows








hardy-har-har. I know people would be wondering why this is only the third favorite book in my arsenal. Well, let's just say that even though I love the story, I was quite disappointed with the outcome. Oh come one people! Do I even need to summarize the story for this one? I'm pretty sure that EVERYONE pretty much knows how the story goes. Am I RIGHT?

Second Place
The Wheel of Time















Okay... so, this is a relatively unknown book. It is the second book in a series of 12. It spans 50 chapters. It details the adventures of Rand al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara. All of whom are Ta'Veren or people who affect the fates of those around them. They journey to destroy the Dark One, Shai'tan, Sightblinder, or even Leaf Blighter as some of the few names given to the malignant force bent on destroying the world.

First Place:
Brisingr

















So, I did mention that I am a great fan of medieval times, magic and dragons right? And what can be better than a book that has them both? This book follows the life of Eragon, once a simple farmboy turned Dragon Rider by fate. This details his adventures following the battle at the burning plains, where his old friend, Murtagh had become a dragon rider as well. But a Dragon Rider in service of Galbatorix, the malevolent force bent on dominating the continent of Alagaesia.

The Greatest Blessing God Ever Gave Me

God sent me wonderful angels to take care of me. Now, let me introduce to you these angels, my family.I live with my two aunts, an uncle, my mom, and my younger cousin. Though we don't have riches, we share the most wonderful thing--love.

As I've mentioned before, I was born by a single mom. This woman is the best mom God could ever give me. An angel in disguise. She is the bread winner of our family. My mom supports every member of the family, financially and morally. I consider her the wisest among her brothers and sisters. She is very practical and she never act without thinking. She is a strong and courageous woman. For me, she is the perfect mom, she's not too strict and she still gives me freedom to do whatever I want, as long as I should not get low grades.

My mom could not have done this without the support of her sisters and brothers--my uncle and aunts. They catered me with love. They cared so much for me and I'm very happy I have them as my family. I'm thankful to God, and I know that there won't be a better family for me.

Leisure is not luxury it's a necessity ...

Every person needs some undertakings to keep themselves engaged in activities - and something interesting or fun makes it more amiable too! Great hobbies promise this. With today’s stressful lifestyles and strenuous environment it’s important to have time to do things you want and enjoy.


First: Reading and writing
As what our teacher always tells us; "The work of the hands develops the mind and the work of the mind develops the hands", I certainly believe that. Well, I enjoy reading books, mostly fiction novels and some science-fiction, I also enjoy reading encyclopedias. I feel comfortable and at ease whenever I'm reading. I've grown longing to read, maybe it's because of my desire to learn new things. I am a person with great curiosity, and discovering new things fascinate me. Writing, on the other hand, also interests me but on a quite lower scale than reading. I enjoy writing poems but mostly I just write everything that pops in my mind.


Second: Listening to Music
"Music is the Language of the Soul" Have you ever wondered how a mother could easily calm her baby with gentle touches and serene whispers? Maybe it's the same with music, as what I believe. Well, music, for me, calms the soul. I enjoy listening to music of all sorts, except for the metal ones.




Third: Drawing
I usually draw to kill time, most of the time I draw either bits of nature or anything that comes into my mind. If you ask me why about nature, it's simply because it is very calming and I find it enjoyable.

My Hobbies

We all have our own way to kill time. And for me these are some of my favorite things to do.


First of all I love reading books. As I've said, I like to read books that are about adventures. I also enjoy reading horror books and detective stories. I'm an adventurous person and I love mysteries. Life is full of mysteries, so you have to be wise to figure them out.



Second, I love to daydream. I daydream most of the day. My mind is always up above the clouds. I am always locked up in my own world where I can live my life happily. I daydream when I get bored, or when teachers are giving us a lecture. Hehehe :)

And lastly, this hobby is my favorite, DRAWING. I just love to draw. It's a way of expressing myself. Some expresses themselves by writing, but me, I express myself by drawing. I draw what I feel. I keep a notebook where I can doodle all I want.

So now I guess, you know what I do to kill time. Anyway, these are just a few of my favorite things to do. :)

Time Killing...

Everyone has a hobby they use to kill time. Well, there are people who don't but THEY don't have a life. It is natural that I am no exemption to this. However, I still do believe that no matter what hobby we have, we must still be able to manage our time properly. Unless of course, you're a lazy couch potato who doesn't do anything but watch television all day.

First Off: Writing
Honestly, I LOVE to write, be it poems or haiku's to full fledged stories. I tend to create fantasy worlds in whimsy. Sometimes, I tend to be motivated so much that in moment's folly, I can fill a page with words. Some other times, I tend to be unmotivated that I sit for hours looking at a blank page. I can't help but yearn to find myself in the worlds I created. Personally, I believe that this is an affliction that all authors suffer from... The desire to see your characters in person, to see the landscape you created in your mind face to face.

Secondly: Reading
Now, in my opinion, I believe that reading and writing go hand in hand as hobbies. Of course, many of the greatest authors of our time are inspired by other authors. I could read fast, skim actually, but be able to understand the entire story. I would rather read than get paid a thousand dollars for simply sleeping. For me, reading takes me to places where I wouldn't normally be able to go to.

Thirdly: Singing?
Hardy-har-har! No one laugh and/or poke me :D I do enjoy singing, but, I only sing for the praise of the Lord. I love Gospel/Christian songs. My favorite musical group that performs such music is "Hillsong." I ADORE their music simply because their music doesn't only carry powerful lyrics, but also, the melodies and tempos are not cliche. One of my favorite songs is Still, of course, by Hillsong.



Well, that's all for now... I guess... Maybe I'll update this in the future.

Looking Through Eagles' Eyes

Soaring high above the clouds, playing along the mountains' airy peaks, the eagle. As the wind ruffles its feathers and rushes past its majestic face, one can only imagine the elation at such an experience. The King of the Skies, a mighty hunter, a majestic flier. The eagle is one of nature's most glorious animals.

Such perhaps is this glory that it has become an emblem, an insignia, a symbol of patriotic traits. There is no question that the Eagle has gained fame as a symbol of pride. No question is posed to it being our school's emblem of choice as well. It aspires us to soar to new heights and to challenge ourselves to surpass our own boundaries.

The years I spent in CSA have been the most eventful, eye-opening and fulfilling years of my life. Much more so, perhaps, now that I am in High School. I have not tried to build a reputation as an academic in this institution, but it seems that I have ascribed one. I am in no way condemning myself to a life of pure academic purpose. As it is, I have been trying to expand my boundaries and explore untapped potentials.

If you were to ask me, what the most memorable level in CSA was, I would really have to say, First Year Highschool. It was the best yet at the same time worst year of my life. Not at all because of the teachers. IN FACT! The teachers greatly contributed to it being the best year of my life!

It was during this time that I discovered myself, and found true friends. Even now, we might not be complete, but I still feel the friendship that we once shared. To say anything beyond being good friends would be foolish. This is because everything, from the moment we met, up to the details we share are fully confidential. Well, not really, but still, you get the picture.

Recently, I have felt the presence of God in my life. I have felt His presence at a level I have not felt ever before. In fact! let me share an experience. Last week was THE best week of my life! Everyday, something monumentally GIGANTIC happened. I would attribute everything to me and my friends' daily habit of going to the oratory.

The strange thing is that everyday, sometime in the afternoon, while at school. A single white feather would float down in front of me. I took it as a sign from God! My belief in his greatness has been strengthened tenfold.

Now, looking at my life through an eagle's eyes, I can say, I have a LONG way to go.

Driven by my Passion

Some people say that life is so unjust. We only sought a life of comfort and ease and nothing more. Living without problems to be worrying about, tribulations that would be perturbing us. All of us want to get what we desire. But that’s not what life is. Let’s just say that there are things that do not go according to the plan. There isn’t always relieve and the simplicity. We are fated to face these tests. Challenges that might make us fall; but stronger and more determined as we stand, driven by our passion.
It was dawn in the 11th of November; I was first introduced to the exquisiteness of this world. Fortunate as they have said, for my mom to deliver me safe and sound because before I was born my mother suffered from miscarriage which cost the life of two brothers. A tiny form of being, never had thought of the life he was to undertake. A middle child of three siblings, I was surely lucky to have been blessed with loving, supportive and hardworking parents. My older sister is a nurse who never forgets of helping and being a model to us. Like my younger sister, I am proud of being an Augustinian.
Ian Gabriel, a name that isn’t really common or unusual to the ears. But behind that name is a person of great dreams. I believe that every person wears a mask, a mask that conjures a reserved personality that is much different to the person’s real personality. The only time they take off that mask is whenever they’re with their family, friends and certainly when they are alone. As I should say my friends and my family are the ones who really know me. Well, I’m a jolly person and likes cracking jokes, though I can be serious at times, I can easily make friends and I make sure that there’s always a smile on my face. I am a very optimistic person and a competitive one. I like drawing and enjoy reading books, a lot.
When I first stepped into High School my mom would always tell me how scared I was to go to school during my Pre-school years. She told me how much I would cry, scared of being alone at school. Well, during those days, I never thought that the one I feared the most will be the most significant place in my life. Our school is like our second homes. It is the place where we learned how to write, read and do all sorts of stuff. It is also the place where we experienced great happiness, grief, embarrassment, excitement and many more. Of course, I myself have experienced all of these, I fell, and I commit misdemeanors. Sometimes I become successful, sometimes I don’t. But for every downfall that happened to me, I learned from the mistakes I committed. Every year, I do my best to be able to achieve an award or so, just to give thanks to my parents for all the things they had done and given to me. Certainly, these will not be possible without the help of my friends and my schoolmates. To sum up everything, I can say that our school had always been part of our lives.

Saint Augustine is the Doctor of the Church. He was a genius, although a genius to God means nothing. However, a holy genius means everything to God's body. He is called the Doctor of the Church because of his miraculous transformation out of sin to the service of God's people. – Since the year 1999 I have been an Augustinian in body and mind, and I think that this is what motivated me in choosing the career that I would want to take in the future. Every since I was young I have always dreamt of being a doctor. Not just a doctor, but a successful one. I chose this field of knowledge because of my desire to help others and to gain knowledge. I know that the path I chose to take will not be an easy one, but I believe that we great effort, determination and support, I’ll be next to my goal in due time. So that’s who I am; and since I’m still doing my best to make the most out of my life, this would never be the end.

The Adventure In Literature

Books, has always been a part of my life. Now let me present to you my top three favorite books.



Coming in the third place: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair
This story is about a boy and a girl traveling to whole new world, the world they called "Narnia". I like this story because it's about adventure. I love reading books that talks about adventures and mystery.



Coming in the second place: Kapitan Sino
This book was written by Bob Ong, my favorite author. This talks about heroism and how we can make a difference to change our world. This story focuses on Rogelio Manglicmot, also known as Kapitan Sino. He gave everything he could to save his people even if his life is at stake.



And to top it all off: MacArthur
A story bout five men who have their different problems to solve, and different lives to live. But one thing in common about them is that they live as ordinary persons. These five men's lives signifies the different lives of Filipinos. These boys got each other's backs. And they've stuck with each other through thick and thins.

Pages bound to numerous places ...

The Swiss Family Robinson

By Johann Wyss

Love, trust and determination, these are the ones that kept the Robinson Family united and unperturbed. This tale about a family of survivors from a shipwreck lets us travel to a world where wit is the key to survival. It will let us journey to a place like no other, filled with mysteries and beauty - a paradise like no other. We will witness as the family faces challenges that for once, they have never thought of conquering. Be with them as they make progress in their lives in the island, discovering its wonders and making it suitable for living. Many years have passed and they have established a feeling of home and belonging in the island, but when the time comes that help will be offered; will they stay or will they return to Sweden, their beloved homeland?

Of all the books that I have read this is the one that enthralled me most. It enriches the essence of love within the family. It tells us how the impossible would be possible even amidst all the obstructions of life. Indeed, this book is very fascinating; it has an inspiring message and an exquisite plot. Without any hesitation, I would recommend this book to all, young and adults and certainly to readers who are yearning for a story that’s one-of-a-kind.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

J.K. Rowling

The last of the Harry Potter series and a certified work of art by Mrs. Rowling, for the last time “The Chosen One” comes back to clash with the man who had killed wizard and muggles alike, beyond any can imagine. The last of the Harry Potter series but only the beginning of an adventure at its best.

Personally, I have read and collected all of the books in the series and I could easily say that the last of it is the best. It has the right blend of emotions and really makes readers crave for more as each chapter ends. It was made to its best from the beginning till the end, applause to Mrs. Rowling and to her brilliant mind.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magicians Nephew

C.S. Lewis

This book is the first of the series and the predecessor of the movie hit, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It sets readers to a marvelous place called Narnia where fascinating creatures are Under the shadows of its brother in the series, I find it as an undiscovered treasure. I have collected and read all of the books in the series and without any doubts or hesitation; I can tell that this is one of the best in the series.

I find this story great because having watched the movie version of the second book in the series, reading this book will let you discover the tales behind the events or the characters in the movie. This is the start of the sequence and I believe that to fully understand the tales of the rest, I suggest that you should also read this book.