The Iliad and Odyssey ..

Iliad and Odyssey are two of Homer's great Greek epic poems that speaks about POWER, FATE, DESTINY, LOVE and PASSION. 

The Iliad is a Greek epic that reveals: power, revenge, sacrifice and love. The story is about how the love of Helen and Paris destroy the people and the kingdom of Troy. The Iliad exhibits different cases of the Greeks. One is that the women are inferior of their husbands; moreover, they do not have the right to decide on their own. They serve as slave for their husbands and as gift for other men. Another is that the gods and goddesses prophesied the lives of the Greeks; for example, how goddess Athena made Helen and Paris fall in love for each other. Without their gods, they cannot live. Another is that how Destiny and Fate affect the characters and their living in the story. FATE is used with regard to the finality of events as they have worked themselves out; and that same sense of finality, projected into the future to become the inevitability of events as they will work themselves out, is DESTINY. In other words, FATE relates to events of the past and is proven to be true and unalterable, whereas destiny relates to the probable to almost certain future (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny#Destiny_versus_fate). Lastly, the Greeks used wars to take revenge and to overcome one's kingdom. Therefore, these are some of the instances in the Iliad that leave mark in my mind.

The Odyssey is the sequel of the Iliad. The Odyssey begins ten years after the end of the ten-year TROJAN WAR, and Odysseus has still not returned home from the war. It is a story about the adventure and suffering of Odysseus which started when Poseidon, the god of sea, cursed him that he will suffer from what he had done to him. Moreover, goddess Athena guided him in his journey. Odysseus faced the temptation of Circe and Calypso; still, he proved his love and loyalty for his wife, Penelope. Despite everything that had happened to him and to his warriors, he never quit on his way back home. On the other hand, Penelope had suitors when Odysseus was believed to be dead. But she remained faithful to his husband's promise to her. The love of Odysseus and Penelope to each other hold on till the end. 

The Iliad and Odyssey symbolize LOVE and FAITH. This two stories changed my views in love that LOVE CONQUERS ALL! The main characters in the stories show their remarkable love for each other; such as, the love of Odysseus for his family most especially for his wife, the love of Penelope for Odysseus, the love of Telemachus for his unseen father, the love of Agamemnon for his daughter, the love of Helen for Paris and Paris for Helen. Therefore, Homer was able to present the Iliad and Odyssey as effective to the people that read and watched his works. 

The Apathetic Warrior of The Iliad ...

   Achilles was known as the ruthless yet strongest warrior of the Acheaens. He brutally killed the innocent son of King Priam who was Hector.


   Achilles finished. Then on noble Hector's corpse he carried out a monstrous act. He cut through the tendons behind both feet, from heel to ankle, threaded them with ox-hide thongs, and then tied these onto his chariot, leaving the head to drag behind. He dimmed up into his chariot, brought on the splendid armour, then lashed his horses. They sped off eagerly, dragging hector. A dust cloud rose above him, his dark hair spread out around him, and Hector's head, once so handsome, was covered by the dust, for Zeus had given him to his enemies to dishonour in his own native land. So all his head grew dirty (22.520.231-232). Hector, whose body was tortured by Achilles has left with no chance to take revenge for himself. These lines proved that, Achilles has no pity for Hector. He used his strength to lynch Hector and other people. Achilles did not show sympathy for Hector's family. He revealed that he does not have any fear of ending someone's life. 

   Truly, Achilles did not posses any good attitude in "the Iliad". His image as the strongest warrior with an iron heart marked in the story. If I will place Achilles in our existence, he will be punish for everything he did. Therefore, Achilles is the kind of warrior who has no fear of anyone and defends what he thinks is right. 

The Strength Of A WOMAN ...

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give."
      - Eleanor Roosevelt

 They say that woman are weak and do not have an important role to this world. A woman proved that this is wrong and that is Jessica Soho. She is a famous broadcast journalist in GMA. She has been reporting in the network for 15 years. She has been hosting Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and I Witness and other news programs. She received George Foster Peabody Award and was the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Journalism Award in 1998. She won in the New York Film Festival for Coverage of a Breaking Story for her account of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley. She was recognized for all of her documentaries that awaken the minds and greatly affect of the people. With her different reports about the economy, people, places, events and others she was able to inform the people about important things. 

  "Provincial and regional journalists, in my view, are the real heroes in this profession. The dangers and risks you face and encounter are no doubt far greater than those that we face in Manila. But despite the hazards of the job, journalists must work hard and strive to make Philippine media strong, robust and credible." This was her statement in reference to the 55 journalists in the country that had been killed.She is charitable because she loves to help people in need. Her dedication to her work is impressive and admirable! 

 I am inspired with her credibility to serve her fellowmen. I hope that someday, I will be like Jessica Soho.

Taytay United Methodist Christian School: My Alma Matter

   Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

   TUMCS is the best foundation in nurturing Godly people. It's my stepping stone to success. It molds my character to be good servant of God.

   TUMCS ranks one or two in Taytay Rizal every year. The school possesses high standard of education. The students can retain the uplifted school by following rules and achieving the mission and vision of it.

   Rebels and drug addicts are rampant. It's because of wrong education. Through TUMCS, one can regain faith and good values. Through educational programs, TUMCSians exhibit their skills but, the important is proper decorum during the programs. Many schools offer quality education, very seldom focus in instilling moral values in students and TUMCS is one of the schools that focus more on developing moral and spiritual values of the student.

MISTAKES Can CHANGE Your LIFE a 100% !!!

 "Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being BRAVE."

   English is a universal language. It  is a subject wherein one's skills in grammar are developed. Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses, Sentence Patterns, Verbs, Clauses, Prepositions, Nouns, Adjectives, etc. are some of the topics in English grammar. These examples are needed when students enter Collage. That is why; teachers focus in instilling us grammar lessons because we will be using this until we finish schooling. 

   I really love English when I was in grade school. I used to collect books and other stuffs involving English. But when I entered High School, I started to hate English. I felt that it is one of the hardest subjects in school. English became more complicated compared in grade school. My grades range at 82-85. I am interested in literature. But when grammar interferes, I became stressed out! Blogging was introduced to us this year. Our writing skills were applied. This is the time where I started to love English again! Grammar is really emphasized in writing. Without knowing certain rules in grammar, one cannot compose an acceptable writing! Of course, I always put my efforts in composing my posts because other people read it. I accept my errors in grammar whole heartedly! Instead of cursing myself with my errors, I am striving hard to improve it! 

   NOBODY'S PERFECT! We commit mistakes everyday. All we have to do is to accept errors and mistakes positively and never stop in finding a way to improve it! The best way to improve one's skills in grammar is to get fascinated with books!

"The greatest mistake you can make in your life is to be continually fearing you will make one."

JUNIORS: OUR VERY OWN REMARKABLE and UNFORGETTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS! :)))

       "JUNIORS THE BEST, THE BEST, THE BEST"

    Last week, Taytay United Methodist Christian School celebrated its 26th Foundation Anniversary! Of course, Field Demo and Intramurals, traditionally, were held. But in the yer 2011, TUMCS progressed! A parade before the field demo and the very first Mr. and Ms. INTRAMS were on the list!

    First activity in the morning, September 15,2011 a parade was done successfully. It was new to us! We displayed our very own jerseys through this parade. Our section was so happy because, we felt that we have had the most eye catcher jersey of all! After the parade, the First Mr. and Ms. Intrams were prepared. In each section, a Mr. and a Ms. was chosen to represent in the said competition. My classmates voted Jeff and me to join there! At first, my partner was hesitant to join in the competition. But at the end, we still represent the Mr. and Ms. Intrams. Actually, I was not that prepared to participate in the competition. But when that day came, I just prayed and lifted everything to God! Pageant and question and answer were the categories. Jeff and I modeled at the gym of the school with coordination of each other and contact with the audience. Unexpectedly, I did not felt any nervous until the competition was over. As expected, I was FULL OF CONFIDENCE when I walked and answered the question of the judge! I was the last to be given the question. When it was my time to be questioned, the judge was amazed of my OVER CONFIDENCE! The question was: "If you are to choose: Jewelry, Pencil or Make-up. What will you choose and why?" I started my answer with a joke! At first, my friends and one of the judge was scared with what I was saying because they know the joke! But I rephrased that joke, I said: "My Father! Oh my father told me once when I was a child NOT to talk to STRANGERS! Since YOU are NOT a STRANGER, I Will answer your question!" I chose PENCIL because; I do not need Jewelries or either Make-ups because I'M ALREADY BEAUTIFUL! The crowed yelled and cheered as I finished my answer! I was announced as the FIRST MS. INTRAMS 2011 of TUMCS and Jeff too won the title MR. INTRAMS 2011! I have learned from this experience that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, that I can prove to everyone that "I CAN WIN IN THE COMPETITION!" and prove to my classmates that they were never wrong for choosing me as their representative! :'')) Truly, THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS OUR FAITH IN GOD!!! 

    After the Mr. and Ms. Intrams, field demo was held. There were three fields: Cheer Dance, Modern Dance and Ballroom Dance! Cheer Dance was assigned in our section. Before the Foundation Week, III-Leah were SO BUSY for cheering. We put our efforts in building the yells and steps. we always went home late at night to PRACTICE and PRACTICE!!! Until the competition day came! We did our very BEST! I'm very PROUD to say that, we WON over the Freshmen, Sophomores and Seniors! Our EFFORTS and SACRIFICES were FULFILLED and ACHIEVED!!! Because of Team Work and Dedication in our field we won in the CHEER DANCE 2011! It is not only the effort of ONE, buth the effort of EVERYONE!!! :")))     Sports fest was conducted in the following days!  

    Fairness and Camaraderie were exhibited in our Foundation Week! That is why it became SO SUCCESSFUL!!! The judgments were fair! The lesson for all of the activity is to exhibit TEAMWORK and SPORTSMANSHIP in every section! I'm proud to say that TUMCSIANS never failed to accomplish these! I AM A PROUD JUNIOR!!!

 "DON'T HATE ME 'COZ IM BEAUTIFUL! DON'T HATE ME 'COZ I'M BEAUTIFUL!" 

EVERYBODY Deserves To Live With PURPOSE !

 "I am BEAUTIFUL, no matter what they say. Words CAN'T bring me DOWN! 'Coz I am BEAUTIFUL, in every SINGLE WAY. Yes WORDS won't bring me down! So don't YOU bring me down today!"

   Discrimination is the power of making fine distinctions or judgements. 
   Have you heard news about Overseas Filipino Workers being discriminated by the people in the countries they are destined at? Some of us do not know the condition of the Filipinos working out of our country. They are experiencing different kinds of judgments. One example of judgment is the color of the Filipinos because, most of us are born with brown complexion. I remembered the time when the White Americans had distance between the Black Americans. I felt pity for the Black Americans because, it seemed like they were not given the right to live. 

   

   Are you experiencing discrimination? How do you deal with it? Do you face it negatively or positively?

   In 2002, a search for the next kiddie idol was held. It is the Star Circle Quest: Kids Edition! Thousands of kids joined the contest and I'm one of them. My mom convinced me to join the contest at an early age. By that time, I do not have the idea of entering contests like that. Screenings, VTRs, photo shoots are held in the search. Every week, there are eliminations. I reached up to 50 contestants, then I got eliminated. Actually, I did not expect that I will pass the first screening! Luckily, out of the thousand that joined there, I reached the final 50. But then, the reason why I got eliminated is because of my brown complexion. The judges prefer to choose the white ones! By that time, I felt that I was discriminated. It was like I do not have the right to enter showbiz because of my complexion. But life still goes on. I never hated joining contests! 

   Even at present, injustice never leave me! When I entered high school, most of my schoolmates discriminate me because of insecurities. I always hear negative comments from them in every actions I make. When I was in First Year, my talent is developed the time when our school held a singing contest. Fourth Year students got insecure because of me. I had many experiences of intolerance even at the start of my High School life! I did not know how to handle the discrimination of my fellows. Until I entered Second Year and Third Year at present. I became independent and stronger than before. I am a POSITIVE person that is why I did not fail to SMILE after all these. Lately, I had Chickenpox. I did not thought that it would be hard for me to handle this disease. After two weeks, thank God that I recovered from this disease! Then I went to school even though I have scars all over my face and body! I expected that my classmates will tease me. My expectations were true! My teacher in English said, "CJ! What happened to your face! Hindi ka NA maganda!". Then I laughed and said, "Kahit may ganito ako miss, MAGANDA padin ako!". Instead of hating my teacher, my perspective in life became MORE POSITIVE! Maybe she is unaware how I LOVE HER because, even though she discriminates me, I am facing her with a SMILE and never regret on THANKING her for being that! Without her DISCRIMINATING WORDS, I will never be this STRONG! She is one of the people who molded my WHOLE PERSONALITY! I am getting my STRENGTH to the words I hear from her: whether positive nor negative!

   In this case, inspite of being discriminated I have realized that it is not a reason for me not to pursue my dreams because, a sense of purpose is the best driving force to live. Do not be affected or be intimidated by others. When you have a reason to live, you will never have the reason to quit because, you can be the best as you can be. It does not matter who you were, what matters is who you are today and will be tomorrow. Have a POSITIVE outlook in life!

   I want to dedicate this words to ALL the people who have discriminated and hate me! I THANK YOU because you have made me a STRONGER PERSON! Though your words or actions made my heart cry but, after every minute I hear those negative words, I am facing the reality that: GOD made Us in HIS own image and I will always be BEAUTIFUL in every single way I can be!

IMMEASURABLE LOVE ! ..

"You were my STRENGTH when I was WEAK. You were my VOICE when I couldn't SPEAK. You were my EYES when I couldn't SEE. You saw the BEST there was in me. Lifted me UP when I couldn't REACH. You gave me FAITH 'coz you BELIEVED. I'm everything I am, BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME ... "

Parents are our mentors and molders in life. They are our WORLD'S GREATEST teachers! The FATHER sets as the "breadwinner" of the family. He is obliged to work and to supply the necessities of his family. While the MOTHER sets as "the light of the house" of the family. She is expected to be at home, taking good care of her children and spending time with them. She is the one who will do the household chores and budgets the money earned by his husband. The Mother is deserved to be LOVED and RESPECTED by her husband.

In midst of the dawn, I was born in September 1995. Time flies fast and I am already in third year High School! I was once a baby, but now a teenager! I was identified of my trainers as a stubborn student with a boundless energy! I am very active and alive since then I was in pre-school. TALENTS like singing, dancing, acting, etc. are bestowed to me by GOD! But SINGING is the most of all! God has given me a powerful voice, which I am using to inspire and touch the hearts and souls of others. I started singing when I was about 5 years old. Until my mom enrolled me at Center for Pop Music Philippines-a voice lessons school-to enhance my knowledge in singing, when I was in elementary! When I was in Grade school, every time we had programs, my teachers invited me to sing, until at present. My HEART is so much happy whenever I saw my listeners feel the songs I am singing! I felt flattered and inspired when I heard uplifting comments from them! It just makes me sing more and more until their heart's content!

I am the kind of person that is hiding my true feelings! Every time I get weary and down, my friends and the people around me does not feel it. I do not want others to see my innermost feelings, even my mom. Though there were times when I felt empty, I just hid these feelings with a SMILE! Like in every singing competition I joined, when I knew that I was cheated and did not win the first price, I forced myself to refrain from crying! All I want my friends, mom and others to see is that I am STRONG and I can laugh and laugh even problems in life interfere!

I grew up without a Father! He left us when I was in grade 2. He went abroad to sustain our needs. That is why; my Mother became our mom and dad at the same time! We became used to it! I graduated grade school, entered High School, joined singing competitions, face my haters, solve heart-breaking problems, go to mall and go to different places WITHOUT MY DAD… But we are surviving without him, because of my mom! My mom became so WORKAHOLIC ever since dad left us. She has less time for me and my sister. As time goes by, I can feel the pain and burden of my mom being a parent alone! Though she is weak and ill, she still finds a way to go to office! But seriously, my HEART breaks into pieces every time I am seeing her like that! :'( If only I can work instead of her, I am willing to. I am witnessing the efforts, sacrifices and hardships of my mom. That is the reason why I hide my tears from my mom. I just want to be STRONG to uplift her! My relationship with my mom is EXCEPTIONAL! My mom had a GREAT ROLE to where and what I am now! She molded me to be a God-fearing person. I am the ECHO of my Mom's Life!

I have learned that in every troubles and problems in life, we must learn to STAND, SMILE, THINK POSITIVELY and NEVER GIVE UP! For God is ALWAYS with us! Jesus said: "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be GIVEN TO YOU" - John 15:7

"You told me everything and everything you've given me, I'll always keep it inside. You're the DRIVING FORCE in MY LIFE. There isn't anything or anyone that I can be and it just went or feel alright, if I didn't have you by my side.You were there for me to LOVE and CARE for me, when skies where gray. Whenever I was DOWN you were ALWAYS there to COMFORT me. And no one else could be what you have been to me you'll always be, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE GIRL IN MY LIFE FOR ALL TIMES! Mama, mama you know I LOVE YOU. Oh you know I LOVE YOU Mama! Mama you're the QUEEN OF MY HEART! You're love is like tears from the stars! Mama I just want you to know, LOVING YOU IS LIKE FULL TO MY SOUL!!!"

( A Song For Mama )