A Five Day Miracle

I remember my mom's story when she got to see Pope John Paul II when she was younger. She told me that there was this tingling feeling inside her that ignited when she saw him. I never gave much thought to it, but I wanted to experience that as well.

God answered my prayer. Our country was visited not only by a pope, but the People's Pope, Pope Francis. He is known for being the most endearing, humble and passionate leader our generation has seen. It was surreal.

Unfortunately, my family has always prioritized our safety rather than seeing someone from a distance. We just watched the pope for the television. My mother, a known devotee, and I watched every event that had something to do with the papal visit. We even bought the papal magazine days before the visit.

My heart melted when he walked out of that airplane. He was smiling! I felt like he was smiling at me. For five whole days, that smile stayed. His eyes were always twinkling, verifying the sincerity of his smile. And for five days, my eyes were full of tears, for the Pope who changed our country.

To think, he's 78 years old! When he is being driven in the popemobile, he doesn't sit. He stands up, waving to everyone. He takes every opportunity to meet people reaching out to him. He blesses children, the disabled, and the sick. After that, his appoinments are long, and tiring. Yet you see his smile every time. You can see the power of the Lord radiating around him. He truly is blessed.

To be frank, I was always skeptical about my religion. Being inclined to science, I always doubted events that science cannot explain. But in five days, I got to thinking. A foreign man, who visited this ailing country, made it united in a span of days. Six million people, in the pouring rain, ready to show their faith.

I guess this is the most important lesson the Pope gave us. In a way, he didn't even say it, it just showed up. In every problem this country is facing right now, the solution is clear.

Unity.

In the end, Filipinos side by side, will end the crisis our homeland is facing. You can see how possible all that is, with a six million record for the papal visit in our midst.

If we can just unite ourselves with one goal, we can attain the glory the Philippines once had and deserves.

To the pope, I thank you for bringing hope into our land, and showing us that whatever situation we have, we can still rise from the ashes like a phoenix, elegant as it is.

Overseas Filipino Workers: Heroes of Our Generation

Heroes are people who make sacrifices for the good of our world. Police, firemen, soldiers, and teachers are some of the people who are heroic. They prioritize others before themselves, even though it means they have to something dangerous.

OFWs or Overseas Filipino Workers are modern heroes. They are people who choose to be apart from their beloved to earn money to support them. They miss holidays like birthdays, Christmases, weddings, anniversaries and tons of our important events. They do not have anyone to help them adapt to living outside their home country. One might not help but be home sick or sad.  Most importantly, OFW parents don't get to be with their children as they grow up while needing guidance from a loving parent figure because they only get to come home once a year or for others, every few years.

It is also very dangerous to be employed overseas.Sometimes OFWs fall into the hands of an abusive employer, resulting in heinous crimes like robbery, rape, or even murder. They are also a target for racist attacks since foreign people think of them as second class.

Being an OFW is an under appreciated job since what they do benefits not only their respective families, but also our country's economic growth and relationship with other countries.

In my opinion, I salute OFWs and hope that in time people will appreciate them more and give them the respect they deserve. I also hope that our government will take care of them and their rights as a human.
I look forward to the day that OFWs will not need to go out of the country to earn a living and go home to their motherland; and to their family's open arms.

-aacs

Act 5, Scene 3 (Revised)

Romeo: How often are men happy right before they die! They call it the lightness before death. Oh, how can I call this lightness? Oh, my love! My wife! Death has sucked the honey from your breath, but it has not yet ruined your beauty. You haven’t been conquered. There is still red in your lips and in your cheeks. Death has not yet turned them pale. Tybalt, are you lying there in your bloody death shroud? Oh, what better favor can I do for you than to kill the man who killed you with the same hand that made you die young. Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet, why are you still so beautiful? Should I believe that death is in love with you, and that the awful monster keeps you here to be his mistress? I don’t like that idea, so I’ll stay with you. And I will never leave this tomb. Here, here I’ll remain with worms that are your chamber-maids. Oh, I’ll rest here forever. I’ll forget about all the bad luck that has troubled me. Eyes, look out for the last time! Arms, make your last embrace! And lips, you are the doors of breath. Seal with a righteous kiss the deal I have made with death forever.(ROMEO kisses JULIET and takes out the poison)Come, bitter poison, come, unsavory guide! You desperate pilot, let’s crash this sea-weary ship into the rocks! Here’s to my love!

ROMEO drinks the poison.

Oh, that pharmacist was honest! His drugs work quickly. So I die with a kiss.

ROMEO dies.
Juliet wakes up.

Juliet:What’s this here? It’s a cup, closed in my true love’s hand? Poison, I see, has been the cause of his death. How rude! He drank it all, and didn't leave any to help me afterward. I will kiss your lips. Perhaps there’s still some poison on them, to make me die with a medicinal kiss. (she kisses ROMEO) Your lips are warm.

Note: This is where I start revising.

Juliet: Oh what should I do! My love, my life! He's dead! Sobbing. I must reunite with my love. If I have to die, and so be it! Juliet holds the dagger close to herself.

Friar Lawrence comes in

Friar Lawrence: Juliet! What in God's name are you doing! Takes the dagger away from Juliet. How unholy! Never think of doing that again! 

Juliet: Friar, you don't understand! Romeo is dead! The light of my life lays still, pale! There is no reason for me to stay on this barren world.

Friar Lawrence: There is still hope my child! You can be a nun or a-
Juliet and Friar Lawrence are interrupted by someone crying for help.

Juliet: Romeo, is that you my love? Are you still alive?

Friar Lawrence: No it is not Romeo. Sees a pain-stricken Paris. Almighty Lord! Paris, you're still alive! Assists Paris to be healed. Let me bring you to the infirmary. Friar John! Bring the Count to the infirmary and heal him the best you can.

Paris: Juliet! Is that you, or is my head tricking me? My sweet bird, thank goodness! I thought my wife was taken away from me. 

Friar John takes Paris away.

Juliet: Oh what should I do Friar! My life is nothing. 

Friar Lawrence: I have an idea my child. It can help you forget of this tragedy. Marry Paris, my dear. He loves you dearly and he will cherish you like the diamond you are. He will make you forget of Romeo.

Juliet: What? I..I d-don't.. No! I will never forget Romeo.

Friar Lawrence: Trust me in this, Juliet. I am sure Romeo would want that.

Juliet: My dear Friar, I know you have my best interests at heart. I shall consider this.

The Chorus: And so this ends the story of Romeo and Juliet. For Juliet heeds Friar Lawrence's advice to marry the Count. The two houses have reconciled due to Friar Lawrence's account of the couples' short-lived romance. In time, Juliet bears a child, a son she and Paris will call Romeo, a name from the first man Juliet ever loved.

The end.

aacs

Heroes

To all the teachers ,

I would like to thank you for the patience and understanding you have bestowed upon me. You are the heroes of our nation, by simply guiding and loving children more than a job asks for. Instead of just fulfilling your responsibility as a teacher, you have become the second parents of our generation. You have touched the lives of children more than you know. I could only imagine how tiring it is to discipline and teach stubborn kids how to be prepared for the world that awaits. I am honestly surprised that a person can be as long-tempered and brave as a teacher.

But I salute you for being a role model of the youth. You have molded us to be the best we can be. The lessons we carry in life are from you, and for that we will be forever thankful. Your teachings have reached our minds on a personal level, and that will never be forgotten.

I cannot wait for the day that I come back to my Alma mater as a successful person and say to you "I would've never done it without you. Thank you for never giving up on me."

In my opinion, politicians and businessmen do not have the most honorable job there is. Teachers do. Because without you, there wouldn't even be doctors or lawyers or politicians that guide our country today.

I know that I have never expressed my gratitude this deeply before, but I can truly say that in behalf of everyone that has been a student before, thank you teachers, for being the beacon of hope the nation needs.

Yours truly,

Alea

A chat with Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn has been my favorite actress since I was 10. Her first movie, “Roman Holiday,” is my favorite movie of all time. But beyond that, she is world-renowned humanitarian, being the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. She also dedicated the remainder of her life to helping impoverished children in the poorest nations.

If I had a chance to talk to her, I would tell her my advocacy for Red Cross, and how I plan to help the country.

Me: Miss Hepburn, it is so nice to meet you. 

Audrey: The pleasure is all mine, darling.
Me:  Well since you’re really known as a UNICEF Ambassador and a humanitarian, I was hoping to ask your advice on my advocacy for Red Cross.
Audrey: That’s great! You should always start helping others at a young age. When I became Ambassador at first I was nervous but then I realized that I get the opportunity to help people. It’s really fulfilling. And it’s wonderful helping your fellowmen.
Me: Thank you! I hope I can really make a difference. Donating blood and raising funds for the need is my main agenda as of now, but I hope that in the near future I can get more people to volunteer.
Audrey: Oh dear, that’s exquisite! Starting off small is normal, but whatever good you do can change the world. You should always start with yourself and then proceed to others. I am so proud of you! I hope your advocacy will be successful, and maybe in 5 years I’ll see you as the UNICEF ambassador!
Me: I hope so too! Thank you so so much, Miss Hepburn. Without you, I never would’ve thought of this. You have been the world’s inspiration to help each other. 
Audrey: Thank you, darling. I hope that many others will step up and heal the world. And please, call me Audrey.

Health Advocacy Advertisement: Red Cross

-aacs x

Every Day, by David Levithan

As a certified bibliophile like me, I have no such thing as a favorite book, since I always encounter new ones frequently. But this book, "Every Day" by David Levithan encourages everyone that love is not about being together, but enabling yourself to love someone at a distance, and even if the only choice is to let them go.



"A" is an undefined being, not knowing what gender he is, or if there are other people like him. You see, he always wakes up as a different person, having exactly one day to live his/her life. He can have access to his host's memories, but he still has some of his own. He doesn't know why or how he lives like this, but he always maintains a low profile living the host's life, to avoid suspicion.

One day he wakes up as Justin, a bad boy persona, who has a girlfriend, Rhiannon, that loves him dearly though he treats her poorly. A eventually realizes that his one day as Justin can help Rhiannon mend her relationship with the host. He then bonds with her, and in the midst of it, falls in love with her. Over the next few days, A has realized that for once in his life, he should be selfish, using the hosts' body to stalk Rhiannon. In the end, he finally tells Rhiannon his situation, surprisingly convincing her. But while Rhiannon accepts him as he is, she knows that she can never have a normal relationship with him. She struggles with the various appearances of A, but still loves him admiringly.

A meanwhile, has made a mistake at leaving his e-mail account open in one of his hosts' body-Nathan Daldry. While bonding with Rhiannon, A ungracefully leaves Nathan's body at an abandoned street. When he is found, Nathan had a distinct memory that he was not himself yesterday, having gone home with A's email on his computer, he e-mails A, demanding for answers.

A then reveals himself to Nathan. Nathan then calls a priest, Reverend Poole to be with him when he meets him, to help him catch A.
When they meet, A then realizes that Reverend Poole is also being possessed like someone like him. He (Reverend Poole's persona) tells A that he can mentor him, and teach him the ways of their kind.

Realizing that he can never give Rhiannon what she deserves, A bonds with Rhiannon for the last time, in a body of a host similar to him-Alexander. At the end of the date, A tells Rhiannon that she should give Alexander a chance, knowing that Alexander can make her happy. A plants a memory in Alexander's body- that of him falling in love with Rhiannon- before he goes. He then lets Rhiannon go, promising that he will never bother her again. The next day, he uses his host's body to meet the man that possessed Reverend Poole, to get some answers and to finally understand.