It's Christmas!

Hours are now remaining before December 25: Christmas Day.

Let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas: CHRIST MOST. In Christmas, we should not "X" Christ. It's a celebration of His birthday, and He is the heart of this season. In Him, there is peace, there is salvation. I learned them in Our Daily Bread.

May we all enjoy this celebration of the birth of our Savior.

Grace....Peace....and Love be with us all!

Here are some bits and pieces regarding Christmas..Merry Christmas!

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. 

To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, 

is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

-Calvin Coolidge

"The best of all gifts around any 

Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family 

all wrapped up in each other."

-Burton Hillis

Once again, Merry Christmas!

Don't forget to count your blessings!

Two Christmases

This Christmas would be a different Christmas for me, even for others.

First, after lots of work at school, I still couldn't feel it's Christmas. I think it's because I'm strained at working and toiling for the sake of good grades, forgetting that I have to enjoy Christmas. But now, I can enjoy it at last.

Also, I'll learn to be creative and meaningful of my gifts. I won't buy and buy.

Those are just examples of how my Christmas would be different. But here's the thing that really makes this Christmas different: It's two Christmases.

 One Christmas would be almost a cold season, with parols shining everywhere and Christmas trees flashing with colorful lights. The other is a tragedy of flashfloods. People swimming through vast of floods, people around rubble, people around darkness.

 One Christmas would be a joyous celebration for families, for relatives. They'll be together in a table, eating that delicious noche buena, the Christmas ham being the main attraction at the center. The other would be an almost hopeless fate for families. For some it is full of cries and grief, knowing that their loved ones are gone, no more to be seen. For some, it is a quest of finding for their loved ones. They are not losing hope, yet it might lose at some time.

One Christmas would be a family together at one home. The other a family without any home to reside.

One Christmas would be a time of giving and receiving gifts. The other a time to find for a place to reside, a time to reflect. But it's a blessing for them to be given help that they need.

One Christmas would be a joyous celebration. The other a struggle, a sad happening. Yet, out of all this things, one Christmas still stands out and remains for each and everyone.

That Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may not exactly say when He was born. But what's important is that God, out of love, gave us His Son, a Savior who loves and who redeems. Through what He has done on the cross, we're still living.We're saved. All you need to do is to receive that gift of salvation.

I sympathize with those who were affected by this typhoon. I pray that they'll be able to rise up again. Kindly include them in your prayers. Let God's grace and love be among them all.

An advanced Merry Christmas to all of you!

The Rhythms of Me

As a young boy, I'll usually get to listen to RJ 100, an adult contemporary--that's the genre of the music they're playing--radio station in the Philippines. Also, I'll listen to songs from CDs containing mostly 80s music. And as I grew up, my interest in old school music went on.

As a freshman, I listened to such stations like 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9, 96.3 Easy Rock and 105.1 Crossover for nice old school music. I listened and searched for music from bands like Men Without Hats, Fra Lippo Lippi, V.S.T and Co., Bee Gees, Naked Eyes, Eurythmics, Industry, JoBoxers, The Go Go's, Nena, Toto, Huey Lewis and The News, Hall and Oates; and artists like Rick Astley, Phil Collins, and Michael Jackson on the Internet.

But most of all, my interest for old school music grew during this recent summer and as a sophomore.

As I spent my sweet summer before I went on 2nd year in high school, I learned about Tears for Fears, China Crisis,Level 42,our very own bands here like The Dawn,The Youth,The Jerks, and so much more.

Then came my sophomore life. I discovered The Human League,The Cure,Men At Work, Simple Minds,Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Kraftwerk, R.E.M., Johnny Hates Jazz, Modern English, Belinda Carlisle, Howard Jones, Al Corley, Go West, New Order, The Bangles, The Pretenders, The Buggles, The Jukebox, Identity Crisis, Ethnic Faces,Violent Playground, and a lot, lot more....They're so many of them.

It's my routine to listen to these songs on my computer, on Magic 89.9 every Friday, and on 99.5 RT every Saturday. I even sang songs like these last Friday on the karaoke during our Christmas party in school.

All these things made me appreciate and love New Wave, Synthpop, Gothic Rock, Alternative Rock, Mainstream Pop, Remixes.

Old school music became my own rhythm, my own music.
                                                                  
                                                                   ***********

I've been so blessed that God gave me this interest, to have this taste for this kind of music that is now mostly underrated and abandoned.

People who lived during these times when big headlines came like Martial Law, People Power Revolution, The Clash of U.S.S.R., Breaking of Berlin Wall, and many more would never forget the music that had been a part of their lives. As I listen to old school songs on YouTube, I'll encounter comments saying that good music like those are not that present anymore today. I do agree on that. I'll even see comments saying that they like to go back to the past. Back to the 80s.

It's really true. Children of today miss some nice tunes and good rhythms that they'll always say "It's oldies!", or in Filipino "Makaluma naman yan!". But not all. I have fellow friends who appreciate them.

Going back to our Christmas party in school, I sang old school songs like Mad World, I Melt With You, and Everybody Wants To Rule The World. I remembered some classmates saying that they can't relate to my songs. There I began to be sort of sad that people don't really appreciate it anymore.

Anyway, it's my music. The t-shirt that I wore that time had these words: Discover Your Music. I've already discovered it. I'm proud of it.

Disappointing

Author's Note: Whoever might be offended by my post, apologies in advance.

Doing school works at very long hours makes me zapped at times.

Since I was a sophomore, my hours if work at my house extended; and my body had to go on hard times.I'll usually sleep at 2 a.m.,1 a.m, or at midnight (probably, the earliest of them). Every now and then, effort seems to be similar to staying late at night. But not every time I extend my working hours, I become productive or get good grades.

Even before I enjoy Christmas, I have to toil and exert effort.

Decenber15.Thursday. One day left before the Christmas party and before I can break myself free. I spent long hours doing a project. I made and painted cards, It took me 6 hours (starting at Wednesday) to do that. Patience and effort was kindly kept as I painted my drawings on the cards. I then slept for but a short while: at least 2-3 hours.

I continued doing that project at school. From the time I went inside, I refurnished and finished making those cards. It's not easy after all. I painted the cards, waited for them to dry, and took excess paint that might stick uncleanly at them. But before I could pass them, I made envelopes for them, with the help of my friends.

I have learned as I did these things that the project can be passed next year. But I didn't mind. I've done my effort enough. Will I suffer again at Christmas? Still, I will get some things done during the vacation. But for it to be added? Not at all. Besides, there was a possibility for a nice grade. However, I feel right from the start that the cards wouldn't be given a high grade.

Outside the classroom, the teacher is there. Together with some of my classmates, I passed the enveloped cards. The teacher is crowded with my classmates who seem to be close with that teacher.

At that time, my card is now being checked and judged.

Ali throughout the checking, I got grades that are not that good. I was surprised to see that the first numbers written there before the final grades were given are numbers that are to be subtracted from the final grades. Thanks to anyone who suggested those first numbers.

So what happened next?

Upon receiving those cards, I slowly and quietly went inside the classroom, gradually wondering, gradually reflecting, gradually frowning. Besides, every work deserves a grade appropriate to it. I'll just slowly accept it as the hours went by.

My classmates would say it's better if I made better cards and pass them on 2012.Yes. It would've been better to make a nicer card. But what could I do? I'm sick and tired of the many works that are burdened on me before I could sleep like a baby this yuletide season. I'm sick and tired of sleeping for 2-3 hours. I'm sick and tired. That's it!

I can now say that I'm contented enough that I'm already done at that project, even though my grades are low. At least, I've had effort, I haven't received a line of 7, and I won't need to replace it with repeating it. There's Science and Math. Why should I always burden myself at one subject?

Depressing

Author's Note: I don't blame anyone on this post.If anyone is offended by this, I extend my apologies in advance. I hope that as you read my post, you'll understand my situation as I wrote this article right from the day it was written.  Thanks and may God bless you all.   

    Friday, November 18, 2011

    It was a simple morning. The shades of light penetrated our little classroom. Drafting class started at about 10:20 AM. There, we were about to deepen ourselves, especially our minds, on orthographic drawing and a bit of isometric drawing.

    Throughout the class, our teacher on that subject challenged us to figure out the different views of an object that he'll draw.

     The class was divided into 4 groups. 3 persons in each group have to get 3 different views of an object: the front, top, and the right side view. 1 person per view. In addition, each group would be given seven minutes to complete their views, and we have to make sure the teacher would approve them.

     When I had my turn-together with the other two-on the blackboard, I have to get the actual top view of the teacher's drawing. For seven minutes, I tried my best to make the drawn object's correct view from the top. And to a surprise, I got the right drawing of the view! However, depression would come along the way after these sort of activities.

     The drafting class was about to end, when the teacher gave us one last thing to do. He'll sketch the views, we'll draw the object. The first twenty to get the right figure will benefit from it points.

   I struggled to get the right figure. I sketched, I erased, I sketched again. I tried hard to draw the object. It takes time, and your mind,of course. While I did what I could, some of my classmates passed their sketches to the teacher in black garment. At first, the teacher disapproved their works. But then, gradually, they took their own slots in the first 20.

   Envy started lingering at me. Jealousy seemed to came upon this man. Though I didn't act upon it, the feelings remain. But, I don't want to let my envy ruin either me or my classmates!

   3 slots were left to occupy. I let the teacher check what I've made. The reply was "WRONG!"

   "WRONG!"

   The teacher uttered it sternly enough, just like someone with vigor and authority.

   So, I looked again at my work. What went wrong? What?, I thought.

   It seemed there's nothing wrong about my work, when all the slots were finally taken.

   I tried to figure out what should be done, when I just learned thereafter that something's not really included in the drawing of the right side view: there's no any slanting line in there! In what I've made in the yellow pad, the triangular slope there should be removed, and the drawing would be almost correct! But also, I have to include guidelines throughout my drawing.

   A misconception made my answer wrong!

   Definitely discouraging

   Absolutely depressing!
                                                             ***
                                                                               

     "Their tears are fillin' up their glasses 

No expression, no expression

Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow 

No tomorrow, no tomorrow"

--Mad World by Tears For Fears

   Around 1:00 PM.

   The classroom is to be cleaned, and we sophomores are to wait for our parents. We are to brace ourselves.

   There were no parents yet inside the classroom, where one of my classmates wrote the newest topnotchers. As the surnames and grades were scribbled on the blackboard, I got to know that the top 15 was totally new.

   My former place was taken.

   From top 2, to top 12, just like a typical downfall of a stock exchange.

   Of the 15 of us, 2 maintained their places, 9 jumped, while 4 fell-including yours truly, who had the most awful and most terrible slide of them all!

   It's been both revival and revenge(fair revenge, not bad revenge as you would think).

   Once again, Envy lingered upon me, but I tried to ignore him. Disappointment accompanied me instead; and at that moment, depression joined me.

   Dad came to get my card, and I felt he wouldn't believe it. He asked me why it went that way. I explained.

   We in the top 15 were all close in grades. The ranking I can quite accept, but the average was dispiriting.

   Most of us really wanted to go higher, so they tried hard to get a better spot at the recent second quarter. And I can't blame them for that! Every hard work deserves high marks, and life's like weather- it changes.

   However, 2nd grading has been a difficult, tough, nerve-wrecking, and energy-devastating experience for me. Efforts were made, but time was disorganized. Hard work was still applied, but it wasn't enough for either a maintained or a higher average.

   It's no easy job at all!

   It's been depressing!

                                                               ***

   But what could I do? It's final. That's it!

   Let me weep. Let me wail. Let me somber. But, I have to accept it. I shouldn't let this bad news discourage me. Rather, I have to go further and to do better.

   Besides, I thought that maybe it's just time for the lucky ones to get their crowns and be glad. My general average is still passing, and maybe, I was lowered,so that I could go up one again. Envy and jealousy should be ignored. Humility and discipline should always be considered.

   But before I end this long blog, I thank my classmates who gave their encouragements. Keep yourselves humble and persistent.

   Persistence.....Perseverance...That's what I do need.

   God, help me. I need your grace.

Chaoses On My Day(Part 2 of the series)

Author's Note: Some words that you'll read here are only substitutes to what they are actually called. I don't blame anyone on this post. I did what I could do to avoid offenses on anyone. Whoever might be offended by this post, I apologize as early as now. And I hope all of  you will understand my post. Thanks.  

  ONCE AGAIN, I took the struggling exams this second quarter. I reviewed, read, and thought of those things our class have discussed and learned so far. By the way, some of the exams were based on what we've discussed or on  what we've done . For short, no review needed.

  Wednesday. At about minutes past 6 A.M. I came to school. I did my daily routine of walking 40 steps-4 stairs-to our classroom.

   I got to prepare. I need reviews. I need an attentive and knowledge-filled me!

   My morning went well, except for one thing.

   Compressed to our review was the demands of paperwork. That paperwork that we've revised for many times was a requirement.One of my classmates said she'll do it all the way. However, it wasn't finished at all. Worse, the other needed evidences of our paperwork that  were needed were not brought. But I'm sure that the survey forms to which I'm entrusted to tally were given already to one of my groupmates(But I'm not blaming anyone!..Again...I do not blame anyone). Result: no examination for that..Chaos!

   Once I knew it. I quietly had annoyance, thinking that we had, at least a complete paperwork. Yet, just because the other requirements were not compiled yet with that folder, it wasn't accepted! How I raised my emotional temperature so fast for another tough time!

   All of us in the class talked about it. Some spread out their sentiments. Some rushed to and fro. Until one moment, it was said that all of us would just take the test next week. Sigh of relief!

   But it happened as we struggled on letters, numbers, and now, expressions.

   Easy it may be to review, taking it is hard. At first, I answered the items well. Until at some instances, I began to question, doubt, and even worry. My mind started to find ways to get the right answers. It discovered some ways..and then it gave up on one item. For the record, I'm the last one to pass the paper! Then, I doubt. I doubt whether I'll pass it. I do really hope!

   Recess came, while another test was prepared. But, I wasn't prepared for the unexpected. We took a test about a sport that's not popular in the Philippines, although it's played by some-baseball/softball. So what's the unexpected? You'll often hear it on a jackpot round of a game show of channel 2 before, when the player can't answer according to the category and letter given..That was MENTAL BLOCK. I did miss those items. I left them blank, leaving a space-for tenants to occupy; leaving me with a feeling of loss.

   After those 2 exams that I pondered and worried, I had, at least, a good look on a test. I finally took Values. I answered questions, and worked on my best to give good answers on a writer's way.

   Chaos would just come right away. Such things go on our way unexpectedly. And they'll bring an annoyance,and a frown on my face..But chaos could also be avoided, as long as you do your best, and you them on time. I'm not saying that I have no effort or time management(even though sometimes I fail to), What I'm saying is that at hard times, you fail and you stumble, and chaos would just come ahead after that..It's hard.
 (To be continued)

A Slap On My Face (First part of the series)

   I'M ONCE again on pressure...Under pressure.2 days or less than 48 hours to go until our periodical tests will begin. And now, I'm facing the trials of high school.

   The class had a quiz on Biology. We reviewed. We tried to review. But not much for me. I can't even exercise my time in an orderly way! Plans didn't go as it was for this "looking-serious" man.

   Disorganized time, slightly-energized body, and the rushes of studies. They all make me a complicated teenager. They all try to mold me to be diligent and hardworking. However, they all pass a frazzled, puzzled me.

   I really had no time top get things well. When could I make things sorted and kept well? You know, then things usually make me look like concentrated on my work or sort of that. Most of all, they decrease my mood. Now what?

   I have nothing and no one to blame. Just myself. Just my clock-cracking management and energy-lost anatomy. In the same way, I have no one to ask for help and comfort but just the One above..He, my Friend, my Help, my Fortress. How I've forgotten Him!

   The quiz began as a review on what we've discussed on Biology(I've missed one discussion though). We held on our pens and our blue Cattleya fillers. We wrote our answers as our nice teacher gave the questions, hoping for a good score, just like hitting the dart pins at the right place.

   We had two quizzes, and the first ended. Thank God! I got at least a consistent score--16.

   Good start, but a depressing conclusion! Guess what I've got at the second quiz: 11! What?

   Indeed, it's hard to miss a class and a good explanation from a teacher that we trust.

   I've just took it..Ok. Fine, I had low scores--like missing shots on the pool table. I even had that envy on people with success higher than mine. At times, things get puzzled and cluttered when misunderstood..

   That, or even those were slaps on my face.
(probably, to be continued)

"Busyness"

SO FAR so good. I'm now about to share my first full post just like an article in a magazine or just like that.

I welcome you once again to my blog...Here, I'll share things that interests me, things that will make this blog a unique teenage dispatch.

Let's begin.

As a student in a science high school, it's a routine for me to get busy, to get things done. That means laziness should be fought and relaxation set aside. It's like working in an office, sometimes like working as a DJ overnight. And here I am, seeing the results.

Thursday morning began with Drafting classes, and our class passed what we call as "improvised folders". We have done them in the first quarter, and we tried to make it better this second quarter.

Many checks were done by the teacher, and I'm nearing the table. After few minutes, I passed my folder. It has a landscape format and a collage concept. The folder was checked then, and the teacher gave me comments. One comment was that the activity papers that I put on the folder was just packed on one side, but it would be better if it was put page by page, just like what my fellow classmates did. That and such gave me a grade of 84, from 86. You see, it's just like a typical stock exchange index decrease. It's still gave impact on my performance. Indeed, IMPROVEMENT is what I need.

To say to you, Drafting is one of the things that make my clock go around and my body very busy. But still, there are lots and stacks of works behind that are piled like paper works.

I should really work hard. At times, I should even set aside rest and enforce your mind and body to work....lots of work.

Nevertheless, I still have those times to chill. Facebook, 80's music, books, and newspapers.

But, I can't even have that time to be with my God in studying the Bible. It's really hard. But I really hope that even though big tasks are to be done, I could still manage my time and allot a time to read Our Daily Bread and The Bible.

That's what I lack-TIME MANAGEMENT

How ,o how?

And so it goes, a piece of what my school life is.

But to tell you, it's not only work, work, work.
Also, it's friends, skills, and dreams.

To finally conclude this post here's a word of my thought that is not really related to what I just wrote.Yet, it's related to my school life, of course.

    "As a teenager with a dream, there are some things that I really have to avoid....One is going down on the sink...Be the one to understand that."-Adrian Conoza via Facebook

New yet the same

This is still the original "The Teenage Dispatch"...It is just that I deleted my first blog and made another using GMail....
Welcome once again to the Teenage Dispatch.