Monday, 31 March 2025

EstudyaNTREPRENUER: Turning Education into Innovation

        Can you imagine how great it would be if people with such young minds shift their passion into something profitable, turning education into innovation? What will happen to their future? Or should I say to our future? Young entrepreneurs could develop solutions to problems we haven't imagined yet. Think about how they could change the world if many of them starts to arise. It would be fantastic!

        The Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Club had proposed a booth with variety of fun and profitable activities that lasted for two days entitled EstudyanNTREPRENUER with the theme "Harnessing yound minds: turning passion into profit, education into innovation." At first, when I heard about the booth, I ignored it because I thought it will be just the other booths I have seen before where they were just displaying the activtites in a single, narrow area. 

        However, I was wrong. They were everywhere! I saw one from the National Heroes Building where I think they were selling foods and having a simple nail business, and of course the sellers were our fellow students from different grade levels. There were also booths in the SPTVE Building like the jail-themed photo booth, which I wanted to try but we were just too early to visit because the people incharged were not there yet. I also saw a confession board with notes about crushes and feelings attached to it. While strolling further from the booth which I thought lasted in the SPTVE Building, I saw another one beside the gym and just WOW! there were more of them! By that time, they were selling palamig and mangoes which I wasn't able to try because I left my wallet in our classroom. Moreover, I consider the rest of my experience enjoying and fascinating as I move on to the navigation.


        Ultimately, my EstudyaNTREPRENUER strolling experience brought me into several realizations. The most significant realizations I made was that everyone, even having a yound mind, can be able to create a business of their own no matter how they like it to be. The overall visit also made me recognize the hardwok of our dear entreprenuers in handling every challenges they face along their business journey and it somehow made me develop and show more appreciation to the entreprenuers especially the estudyantreprenuers, for their determination and passion in order to earn and build by creating innovations.



References:
Blogger <http://www.blogger.com>

Sunday, 30 March 2025

ISNHS Foundation Day: A Celebration of Unity

        The atmosphere was filled with assembling round of applause, cheering of voices, colorful booths and banderitas, and the sound of the props coming from every student's hardwork and efforts. It was the day that fulfilled my excitement and eagerness-- the day where we celebrated the 123rd Founding Anniversary of Ilocos Sur National High School (ISNHS). 


        PART 1: March 21, 2025-- The beginning of the celebration. I consider this day to be one of the "fun but not so well" days in my 4th Year of Junior High. This was the day when we organized our booths as I am also part of a club and the opening for the booths were scheduled at that day. It was a lot of pressure considering we haven't yet displayed our souvenir merchandise. Thankfully, my fellow club officers were there and we made it through, though we didn't get to see the ribbon cutting. 

        This day was also scheduled as the general practice of our performance for the 2nd day of the celebration. It was just mesmerizing to watch the students of ISNHS from Grade 7-11 doing their best, showing off their colorful own-made props. They performed really well, the contest hasn't even been started. 

        The day went by turning really well until a fight broke out in our designated booth. Although I wasn't sure what really happened, it was clear to me that they made destructions in our booth, they even ruined my props. However, it was also a moment that brought our club members together, creating a stronger bond.



        PART 2: March 22, 2025-- The second day of the celebration. I woke up to this day feeling a little more excited than the first day, obviously due to the reason of it being the highlight of the anniversary celebration. The day started off with a grand parade routing around Vigan, where students from different grade levels proudly showcased the beauty of their props as well as the energy of their sections. It was a long walk, but it was worth it because we had snacks afterwards.

 

        The celebration continues as the main event follows-- the field deomnstration. I consider this event as one of the most significant experience in the celebration of the founding anniversary of ISNHS, where students from Grade 7-11 performed their talents in dancing, showcasing the popular arts and music of different countries like Philippines, America, Mexico, and more. Seeing those students perform their best was truly a proof that we, ISNHS'ians have immense sense of pride and can bring a lot more. 

        Although we were announced as 4th Placer, what most important is that we did our best, we were able to show the real us, and it felt amazing how we made a lot of people especially the LGBT community proud as well as amazed by our concept, and that is what matters the most. 


        The celebration of the ISNHS 123rd Founding Anniversary was for me, a whirlwind of emotions. I cannot imagine a school year without a celebration nor field demonstration. The significance of this yearly anniversary is its result of bringing every student here in ISNHS together, forming collective efforts, building friendships, and most importantly, fostering a sense of pride. This anniversary wasn't just a day, it was a foundation of unity and a legacy that will continue to thrive and inspire.




References:
DepEd Tayo- ISNHS Supreme Secondary Learner Government - SSLG (Facebook)
Dhanz Donato Frio (Facebook)

What A Journey Indeed


        Looking back to what I've learned in the previous quarters, I felt an immediate relaxation and calmness as my high expectations on what we will be discussing for the fourth quarter turned not so bad. To be honest, the sense of overwhelming feeling of mine as I discovered our lessons to be for the fourth quarter seemed to feel lighter as we go on to our discussion. "This could be one of the easiest lessons in ICT 10," I said to myself. Turns out, it really was!


        One of the discoveries I have made is the concept of MS FrontPage. Who would have thought that there's a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor where it is much easier to create web designs? I honestly haven't heard of it until fourth quarter. What fascinated me the most about this topic was the fact that it allows users to create a web design without requiring extensive coding knowledge. Unlike our lesson in the previous quarter which is coding that requires you to edit a web design using code tags that for me took a lot of time to create, this what we call MS FrontPage has made it a lot more easier and more convenient because I can directly apply my desired themes or the formats I would want to see in my web design. 

        Beyond learning the concept of MS FrontPage, we also recreated our web design last third quarter but instead of using code tags, we used the MS FrontPage to recreate it. It felt a lot easier, but of course, not everything is achieved through a quick process. There were some challenges I faced during those times. I wasn't able to attend ICT classes due to a lot of school activities which made it difficult for me to keep up with all the hands on activities. What made it more difficult for me was I couldn't continue the activites in our home as it would be unfair to everyone attending our designated time of class. 

        Despite the obstacles, I still found time to submit my missing works and do whatever it took for me to pass the subject. Although it was late, the satisfaction of completing the task and successfully navigating the challenges was incredible rewarding.

        Moving on, I will continue to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with learning new technologies. My experience during the fourth quarter has taught me that not being able to attend ICT class should not be a barrier towards achieving your goal. Although this reflection has become my last reflection in this SY 2024-2025, I am determined that this would not be the last of my ICT journey.

Saturday, 29 March 2025

My Dream, My Future


        "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," said Eleanor Roosevelt. The thought of where I'll be or what I'll be in fifteen years has sent me into feeling excited and daunted at the same time. To be honest, I don't know what will happen to me in that following fifteen years of my life, but one thing is clear. By that time, I had already built a future for myself - a future where everything I had dreamt turns into a reality. 


        Fifteen years from now, I picture myself as a succesful public accountant, but the path to get there won't have been easy. Of course attaining that position required a lot of exhausting process. I faced many challenges along the way and it includes learning the accounting environment, managing demanding clients, and especially dealing with financial problems. Being able to overcome these challenges will have been a crucial part towards attaining my growth, not just as a learner but as a whole person.

        My professional success, however, wouldn't be complete without the strong foundation of the family I envision building alongside of it. Yes, I picture myself as a mother of three children having strong relationship with each other fifteen years from now. There's not much to describe but I know that I will be happy with them in that further years of my entire life. In that fifteen years, I will be realizing that building a family is not as bad as I had thought when I was this current age. Honestly, as of today, I am still not thinking about building a family of my own in my future unless it will be decided when I turned to college. 

        Picturing myself 15 years from now might feel a little bit too fast for me but we cannot argue that getting there is inevitable. We will and we will always get there in the future. I am certain that getting there may hold lots of challenges and uncertainties, but one thing is for sure-- I am determined to embrace every opportunites and overcome every challenges that comes my way. As I explore the complexities of my career and family life, I will carry with me the lessons I learned from where I am right now to where I will be in the future. 

WE, Together for Equality

      

        Annually, the celebration of Women's Month commence with its theme changes overtime. This month serves in the purpose of deliberating issues about gender and sexuality, encouraging more people to support the advocay about gender equality. With the themes changing annually, I sometimes can't get over to that one theme that for me stood up the most-- "WE for Gender Equality and an Inclusive Society." At first glance, you may see it as a normal phrase or campaign that clearly represents about gender equality, right? But it is more than that. By the fact that the word "WE" is capitalized, it might mean something more making it a powerful quote, a powerful advocacy that all should be recalling.


        The capitalization of "WE" is a powerful concept suggesting a collective responsibility. It states that gender inequality is not only exclusive for girls and women, but it is a global issue that requires a collaborative effort between all of us in order for us to achieve gender equality. It simply suggest that the creation of a just and equitable society is a collective endeavor, requiring everyone's active participation in facing the issues about gender and sexuality. 

        Moreover, the inclusion of "an Inclusive Society" highlights the relatedness of various social justice issues. It states that gender equality cannot be truly attained in just a small matter of places, it needs to thrive in a much broader society that values diversity in different forms of gender. It is for the purpose of ensuring all people, regardless of their characteristics, have equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights.


        Ultimately, the theme "WE for Gender Equality and an Inclusive Society" serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility we all share in addressing issues regarding gender and sexuality. It emphasizes that attaining true gender equality is not just the responsibility of women or marginalized groups but it requires active cooperation and involvement of everyone in the society. It is not a matter of we, it is a matter of WE. Together, we have the power to create a just and equitable world for all.

Kannawidan Festival: A Legacy of Tradition

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Faichannel.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fkannawidan-ylocos-festival-uppat-a-tawenen-a-mangitantandudo-kadagiti-kultura-ken-tradision-ti-ilocos-sur%2F&psig=AOvVaw0XvsNjcz2J2H06x5RgJP98&ust=1743340597574000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCIiQzPyvr4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

        Kannawidan Ylocos is an annual festival that celebrates tha founding anniversary of the province of Ilocos Sur every 2nd of February. It is a vibrant celebration of the province's rich cultural heritage. The word Kannawidan itself orginated from the Ilocano word "tawid"  that translates to "tradition", "legacy", or "heritage", simbolizing the essence of the festival. According to the Ilocano people, Kannawidan Festival is more than just a celebration, it is a testament deeply rooted in their history, culture, and customs. 

        The festival's origin lie in the commemoration of Ilocos Sur's founding anniversary on February 2nd. This day marks the historic separation of the province Ilocos Sur from its neighboring province, Ilocos Norte, a special event during the Spanish colonial period. The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, first launched in 2008, serves as a platform to not only celebrate this historical milestone but also to promote awareness and preservation of the Ilocan culture. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.philstar.com%2Flifestyle%2Ftravel-and-tourism%2F2022%2F02%2F12%2F2160380%2Filocos-sur-celebrates-kannawidan-2022&psig=AOvVaw1nW5xEBZvzdxh5fSg2NOp5&ust=1743340702830000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLjG766wr4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAY

        The opening day of Kannawidan Festival features a mass at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, followed by a procession of patron saints from the province's 40 parishes.  This religous aspect highlights the spirituality of the Ilocano people and serves as a way of giving thanks to the province's rich heritage. Aside from the religous ceremonies, the festival bursts with its culturar expression in which includes festival dances, music, and songs that are showcased through various contests, encouraging and influencing younger generations to appreciate their indigenous heritage. The festival also features a vibrant agricultural and trade fair, showcasing "One Town One Product"(OTOP) of every municipalities of Ilocos Sur, their handicrafts, and artistry. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vigattintourism.com%2Ftourism%2Farticles%2FKannawidan-Ylocos-Festival-Pride-of-the-Ilocano-Culture&psig=AOvVaw1nW5xEBZvzdxh5fSg2NOp5&ust=1743340702830000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLjG766wr4wDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAg

        The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival is more than just a celebration of the past; it is a symbolism of every Ilocano people. It is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and cultural richness of the people of Ilocos Sur. By showcasing their traditions, local products, and fostering a sense of pride, the festival ensures that the Ilocano heritage remains alive and thriving. It is a celebration of who we are, and where did we come from. It is a celebration of the Ilocano spirit, and a celebration of life itself.



References:

FESTIVALSCAPE. Kannawidan Ylocos

<https://www.festivalscape.com/philippines/ilocos-sur/kannawidan-ylocos/>

Bueno, J. and Arranz, E. (2019). "Kannawidan Ylocos Festival: Pride of the Ilocanos". Deped Ilocos Sur

<https://depedilocossur.info/>

The Real Meaning of Valentine's Day

 



        As the saying goes, "The greatest pleasure in life is love." Love is what builds us to experience a never ending hope and compassion. It is what people commonly describe as a strong feeling of expression. In every corner of every country, there is a holiday that for them serves as the perfect day to express love-- Valentine's Day. It marks as the general day of giving love through giving gifts, receiving love letters, and celebrating with friends or even family. 


        The celebration of Valentine's Day was often misunderstood as it was only exclusive for people who have romantic relationship. In some cultures, the commonly targeted people having more sense in the celebration firmly remains on romantic love, with couples exchanging gifts, enjoying dinner dates, and sharing long sweet messages to each other. Some people sometimes forgets the real essence of Valentine's Day. Think of it like a couple just making it more of the casual moments, celebrating a bigger expression of their love just in Valentine's Day and then staying off as normal partners the following day. Ironic, right? It is not just a day that will stay off right after you celebrate it. It is a day where you express your real love, your real emotions and grow for development and for trust. It is not like some kind of April Fools Day that will vanish the following day. 


        Moreover, the celebration of Valentine's Day is not just for people having romantic relationship, instead, it is inclusive for all- especially for friends and family. In many communities, it is a day for celebrating platonic love, a chance to express gratitude to friends and family, and an exchange of letters inside the classrooms and celebrating it with your classmates and teachers. It shows the real spirit of Valentine's Day. From sharing acts of kindness, offering a helping hand to someone, strengthening bonds, and a lot more.

        Valentine's Day is much more than just a day for romantic gestures; it is a heartfelt celebration of all forms of love, whether it is between partners, friends or family. This day is supposed to encourage us to be able to express our feelings and appreciate those who matter most in our lives. It serves as a reminder that love is not isolated to just one day or one type of relationship, but is a continuous journey of connection, trust, and kindness. By embracing the true spirit of Valentine's day, we can create a much stronger bonds, long lasting memories, and building a significance of our everyday lives. Let us celebrate love in all its beautiful forms, today and every single day.



Reference:

Euripides. (480 BC). BrainyQuote

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/euripides_118377


Wednesday, 12 February 2025

CBR: A Key to Camaraderie

         "From a seed of an idea to a fully realized website" This quotation simply sums up all the experiences we have gone through when we were making our Community -Based Research Web Design. Looking back to the product of our design, I can say that the process  was a mixture of struggle, exhaustion, and dedication. With that, I will show you some of the experiences and closeness we have built during the process of our CBR.

        First off, when the groupings had been announced and stated, I was loaded with happiness as I found out I was grouped with my friends, Jhoana & Luisa. I never thought I would that we would be paired together for a research project, and I am thankful we had.

 
   
         I remember this was taken during our group meeting about how we would start our Community-Based Research. We discussed the topic we will be focusing and we have decided to conduct a study about showcasing manual arts in San Vicente--furniture industry. We had come up with each member's parts and we have decided to divide the parts where we think our groupmate specializes in, and that is, Jhoana for the Title and Recommendations because we saw that she was good in writing, Luisa for the Methodology and Conclusion and she is also fond in writing, Kevin for the Media Gallery and some of our CSS because he has skills in technology, Jeremy for the Community Profile and also Recommendations because he knows a lot about the places in our community, and I was in charged of the Focus Study and Brief Research Description. 

        In this image, this was the first place we went for our interview with furniture makers in San Vicente. By the way, our mode of transportation for our interview were our own electric bikes and motorcycles, with proper head protection and permission of our parents. At the moment of our first interview, we were still having issues such like being shy and nervous as we talk to the informants. In this image taken, we failed to have an interview with the workers due to busy hours of work and the absence of the owner.

         This was taken after our first face to face interview after a failed one. It was with the owner of Pallado Furniture, Mr. Dionisio Pallado. It was actially a bit hilarious and a touch of luck because we happened to meet him just as the time he was about to leave and luckily, he dared to accept our interview. It was nerve-racking for us because he is also the "kapitan" of Poblacion, San Vicente. Thankfully, he was nice and gentle when we talked to him and we had our first out of five success interview session.

            We took this picture to serve as our proof and also to showcase the beauty of manual arts, specifically furniture-making. We know that those furniture were made with pure hardwork and determination in order to satisfy their costumers. This furniture shop was located also in Poblacion, San Vicente,but is different from the Pallado's. It was I think the 4th furniture shop we went to as we go through our research project. These furnitures symbolizes the hardwork of the San Vicentennian as they gave their sweat in making it. 

            After interviewing 3 furniture makers, we went to interview one of the furniture owners in Lubong, San Vicente. I remember by then, our shyness and shame lessened. Interviewing people really make us thrive through our weakness in public speaking. It was hard at first,but as we try to interview more people, it was becoming easier and easier. By the way, the picture above shows an image of a determined furniture worker because we saw in our own eyes how he worked and worked until he make sure that the furniture he is making will be functioning and not failing. He made us realized more the importance of showcasing manual arts; not just because of how beautiful and how well-done it looks, but because of the hardwork that were poured to create it.

        This was the time when we were collaboratively working on our web design. We worked together in our house, building bonds and closeness to each other, while trying to finish our design. We forgot to take pictures when we were showing team work and cooperation, instead, we had this photo of a computer and our web design on the process of making in it.


            Creating a Community-Based Research and Web design is indeed a challenging task, especially when you are paired up with the people you barely even communicate with. In the process of our CBR, we have not only built a functional website but also a stronger relation and communication between our classmates. In our study, we focused on showcasing the beauty of manual arts like furniture making. However, we will not experience a pleasure of conducting a study in such a way of just navigating it through the internet through our own home. We need to conduct a study in which we are doing it with each other, beside each other, and a large scoop of team work. Our project was made with a fine collaboration and an endearing moment of camaraderie. The success of our CBR stands to the power of team work and dedication, rewarding us with a journey of transforming an idea into a vast reality.


References:

Blogger <http://www.blogger.com>

Reflection: More than Half, Ready for the Next Step


         This school year is more than a halfway done. As far as I remember, it felt like I just wrote my 2nd quarter reflection just few days ago and now, I am writing for the 3rd quarter. We have really come a long way. When I said that the two previous quarters were enjoyable, this quarter is much more than it. For the third quarter, we were still focusing on the concepts of coding. We learned different tags like the ordered list together with its attributes-- start and type. We also learned about the  unordered list which is the opposited of the ordered list, nested list that enables you to insert a list within a list, and the descriptive list that enables you to provide description or meaning to a word you desire to define. 

        Moreover, we were tasked to make a community-based research which will be our basis for our web design. At first, I thought it was going to be easy and basic because we're just going to design for the backgrounds and texts. But when we delved deeper, I found out that we are going to be using HTML tags that we learned for last quarter. It couldn't get hard, right? Besides, we have already tackled and learned it.

             However, I was wrong. It was a lot of process. There were nights of struggles and difficulties that I have experienced especially on understanding the concept of css since we want to put transitions to our presentation or web design. Thankfully, my groupmates were there to cooperate and help me throughout our coding process. 

         Also, the plot of my 3rd quarter became much  more exciting as we met our second teacher to guide us througout the school year. Since we only discussed few coding tags, I didn't find much difficulties in applying them,they were just a bit confusing because of the simultaneous nested list to be inserted. Regardless, I say that my 3rd quarter experience is filled with whole enjoyment and sweet challenges. 

           Moving on to the 4th quarter or as I say the last quarter, I will be more eager in applying everything that I have learned for the past quarters and ready to face new challenges that awaits. In the final stretch of our ICT Journey, I will make sure that it would be the culmination of our hardwork and dedication. I am hoping that this last quarter will be filled with happiness and enjoyment and I hope to tackle more coding tags in order to refine my skills in the world of technology.


References: 

Image 1__iStock<https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1975508657/photo/third-quarter-q3-profits-stock-trading-chart-3d-background.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=gTz64a22xdS78tlrlulOOAJp854-ZBkEDQlI3R4v-E8=>

Image 2__Power to the Patinets <https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscicomm.plos.org%2F2018%2F08%2F07%2Fpower-to-the-patients-co-design-of-community-based-research%2F&psig=AOvVaw20_ECNtFse5D12ksXYZpTL&ust=1739447973846000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCJD6v-6KvosDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE>

Blogger <http://www.blogger.com>


Friday, 7 February 2025

Chinese New Year: A Celebration of Unity

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hackwriters.com%2FMonkeyFW.htm&psig=AOvVaw2uQCVpso2gCjq6vkeXdWua&ust=1739027563375000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPiH59bssYsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
 
        Every year, our calendar marks every Celebration including New Year, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and even the birth and deaths of our National Heroes. With every dates having a red color as mark of its holiday, I always have my mind thinking why we celebrate that one holiday?- the Chinese New Year. It was vague to me because we are in the Philippines yet we are celebrating a "Chinese" New Year. By the way, Chinese New Year is a holiday that marks the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar Chinese Caldenar. It is a time to celebrate the end of winter and start of a new year in China. After a long time of thinking and analyzing, I have found out that the observance of Chinese New Year in the Philippines is a demonstration to the rich cultural tapestry that weaves together various traditions and influences. It is a reflection of historical ties between the Filipinos and the Chinese, cultural integration, and respect for the Chinese people.

One main reason as to why we celebrate Chinese New Year is due to the historical bond between us Filipinos and Chinese people. This bond is the root of all the people whom what we call the Tsinoys or Chinese-Filipino community. Trade and intermarriage between Chinese traders and Filipino locals created a culture consisting of both. As a matter of fact, 7 out of 10 richest people in Asia are Chinese-Filipinos.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthesmartlocal.ph%2Fchinese-new-year-traditions%2F&psig=AOvVaw2uQCVpso2gCjq6vkeXdWua&ust=1739027563375000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPiH59bssYsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO

        Additionally, Chinese community traditions and celebrations have been integrated culturally into the Filipino society, adpating into their taste of food, language, and festival. Example of it is the Tikoy, dragin dances, and fireworks. Filipinos celebrate Chinese New Year because they want to experience new things and new cultures, patronizing the traditions of the developing neighbour country.

        Apart from this, we celebrate Chinese New Year as an honor for respecting the rich and cultural heritage of Chinese-Filipino Community. By this means, Filipinos develop their hospitality and thoughtfulness as shown to guests through servings of food and warm welcomes. It's a way to show respect for the traditions and customs that have been passed down from generations to generations.
 https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.people.cn%2Fn3%2F2020%2F0123%2Fc90000-9651410-7.html&psig=AOvVaw2uQCVpso2gCjq6vkeXdWua&ust=1739027563375000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPiH59bssYsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAW

        In the Philippines, celebrating Chinese New Year is more than just a festive event. It signifies a rooted historical ties between the Filipinos and Chinese community, enabling them to unite as one and share one's culture and traditions. This holiday reflects the cultural identity that influences, respects, and honors the Chines-Filipino heritage. By embracing this celebration, we, Filipinos, not only dive into new experiences and tradions, but by delving into our sense of hospitality, thoughtfulness, and integrity. It creates a beautiful example of how a historical tie create wonderful bonds and association, flourishing a spirit of unity and mutual respect.


References:

Asia Society. https://asiasociety.org/philippines/chinese-new-year-celebrated-philippines

Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061008




Vigan Cityhood :Vigan as a Municipality Then and Vigan as a City Now

 

        

 https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoodscrapbook.wordpress.com%2Ftag%2Fvigan-city%2F&psig=AOvVaw2kPRs4VeXCWsuQl2YqWmhZ&ust=1739023479133000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCID_3bjdsYsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR

      Vigan, located in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, is a marked as a remarkable place consisting of rich history where the past phenomenas whispers in the breeze and through the cobblestones. It is a special place in which the past unwinds the present, blending them together to create a memory one can feel and embrace. It is a Spanish Colonial town established in the 16th century. Going back to centuries, Vigan has experienced different changes but remains a legacy that everyone is now patronizing.

    Vigan's history dates back to the Spanish colonial era. It was founded in 1572 by Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conquistador. It was structured with unique architectural designs that reflects native Philippine, Chinese, and Spanish influences. Back then, Vigan served as a trading post. It was known for its pottery, weaving, and agriculture. It was made with the iconic street, with well-preserved Spanish colonial houses and cobblestones road, creating a fascinating work of art for commercial purposes.

https://images.app.goo.gl/vLAQD8BKhnsehaE26

Apart from its eye-catching structures, Vigan also became a battleground during the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule in 1898. The city was eventually taken over by American forces during the Spanish-American War. The Americans established a civi; government in Vigan and made it the capital of Ilocos Sur.

https://www.new7wonders.com/app/uploads/sites/5/2016/07/n7wc_vigan_-181-1920x1280.jpg

In the modern era starting from 1999, Vigan was declared and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Spanish-colonial and Asian Architecture. On December 27, 2000, then President Joseph Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8988, that "revalidated and recognized" Vigan's city status granted by virtue of the Royal Decree of September 7, 1757, issued by Ferdinand VI, King of Spain. This legislation serves as Vigan's present city charter. The charter did not provide a clause for a plebiscite and the law took effect in January 22, 2001. This was the time when Vigan was officially considered as a city. In known to this, a law known as the Republic Act No. 9411 was stated as the “Act declaring January 22 of Each Year a Special Nonworking Holiday in the City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to Commemorate Its Anniversary as a City.”

Prior to this, Vigan, or I should say Vigan City is now a popular destination with various attractions and tourist spots. Visitors come to see the historic sites that served as a stamp that linked the past to the present. 

References:

Supreme E-Court Libary. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/16875

Hisctoric City of Vigan-UNESCO World Heritage. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/502/

History Timelines. https://historytimelines.co/timeline/vigan

LawPhil. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2000/ra_8988_2000.html

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Delving into a New World in a New Era

 Last year's memories felt like an hour. I just cannot imagine we're on year 2025 now. All seemed to passed by very quickly. I was just jumping last january and now, I woke up to see our calendar brand new and says the year 2025 on it. Time just flies so fast. It even had me surprised that those countless problems, difficulties, and obstacles I've experienced last year, had turned into a healed wound. Then, a thought came into mind, "This year's gonna be different. It's time for a new me."  


As the year 2025 begins, there are a few things and characteristics of mine I also want to change for me to start it. First of all is my trait to please people. I have become a people pleaser for a long time and I realized that  I am just showing people that I am weak whenever I please them and it is really bad for me. I wasn't born to just follow all the things they want, to be swallowed by my own guilt and pride just by not being able to follow them. But this time, I will be more mindful and think more about merely myself, of what's best for me. This time, I will be braver. Aside from my people pleasing trait, I also want to dig deeper into a new whole experience together with my family and friends. I want to explore new things and enhance my skill and abilities for the betterment of my self-esteem and confidence. 

Changes can be hard, but let us not be tempted. We might need it for us to grow, develop, and delve into a different person, not physically, but emotionally. New year is all about making new memories, exploring new horizons, and developing a new character.This year, you will discover a new me. A new me who is not a people pleaser anymore. A new me who is more independent than before and a new me who is much more stronger and braver. 

Monday, 6 January 2025

A Magical Evening

     "Christmas? It's Christmas!" I said as I was filled with excitement and precise happiness as my mother woke me up at exactly 11:30 on Christmas Eve. I immediately run to see our kitchen with all my favorite handas like shanghai, macaroni salad, carbonara, and chicken joy. That night feels so magical because of the essence of our Chrsitmas tree wandered by colorful lights, garlands, and ornaments and it was filled with gifts. It was so magical that everything felt so unreal. All of a sudden, I heard my alarm ringing and I woke up. It's the 24th of December, morning. That magical evening was just a dream, but it felt true. It felt real and I know for sure that it really happened, I just can't remember it.

   However, when I woke up, I heard a sound of a car infront of our house. To my surprise, I saw  my first cousins, aunts, and grandmothers all from my mother's side. Since 2021, we've been celebrating Christmas together in Pampanga but this year, it's different. They all came in our house to celebrate and for me, it was more than enough than all the gifts to receive. My tita who usually organizes the games was also there, together with her signature cassava cake. I was again filled with excitement because our Christmas tree was then again fllled with gifts and all our ready to cook handas were macaroni, spaghetti, shanghai, and chicken joy. It seemed familiar, but I ignored it and proceeded to enjoy the moment. 


    Few hours have passed, it's already Christmas Eve. We went to the church to be blessed as we come to celebrate the birth of jesus Christ. After that, we played several parlor games sponsored by our tita who gave us 50 Php worth of prizes for every game. it was so fun and I enjoyed every single moment we've established together with my family. I turned to look at the Christmas Tree. It was sparkling, the ornaments were shining, and the gifts seemed to be waving at me. For a second, everything felt silent. Now, I remember. My dreams, they really happened and it was the memory of my Christmas experience back when I was 6 years old. Everything was a memory that will forever remained as just a memory. 
    Suddenly, my cousin tapped my shoulder, asking me to come eat with them. After all, it was really joyful, all my experiences throughout the night. However, it was not the same as before, not as magical as when I was a child. Christmas had been part of my life, and I am ready to make the most out of it every year, together with my cousins, relatives, and my family. Regardless of how different and less magical our christmas tree is or whatever our handa is, what the most important is the real spirit of Christmas, that is, celebrating with our loved ones.



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