24 July 2010

Quiz #4: Sentence Patterns

Identify the patterns of the following sentences.



1. Lance Armstrong is an inspiring athlete.
2. Tour de France ends in Paris.
3. The fans sent Team RadioShack a box of rice cakes.
4. George Hincapie assisted Lance Armstrong in all seven of his Tour de France victories.
5. Cancer was unable to stop Lance from being a champion.
6. I consider Johan Bruyneel a very wise team manager.
7. The peloton pedaled like bulls.
8. They gave him the yellow jersey.
9. Some riders met a terrible crash.
10. I watch every stage of the Tour.

20 July 2010

The Ant and the Grasshopper



Heads (II-Acacia)



Tails (II-Acacia)




Writing Exercise: More Images

Communication
a telephone ringing
a friendly letter
hands lifted up to pray
(Norielle Dejucos, II-Narra)

Peace
a dove with laurel in its beak
people waving white flaglets
hands linked together
(Allyssa Marie Nasayao, II-Acacia)

Luxury
ten cars in the garage
maids and butlers waiting
shining jewelry in a gold-plated box.
(Aaron Alarcon, II-Narra)

Happiness
the chuckle of children eating ice cream
the smile on an old woman's face
friends walking together hand in hand
(Melissa Serina, II-Acacia)

Anger
a clenched fist punching
a heavy foot kicking
a thunder-like shout
(Dionessa Biton, II-Narra)

a man punching the wall
throwing things he could find
kicking everything on his way.
(Christine Loise Belleza, II-Acacia)

Poverty
holes in their wallet
the grumbling of a stomach
roofless houses
(Cyrill Jill Arana)

Fear
a boy hugs his knees and trembles in a corner
a lady cries silently, shivering in a dark room
a woman runs away while shouting at the top of her lungs
(Danica Dacillo, II-Acacia)

Writing Exercise: Imagery

We hear hurrying footsteps about
Breaking the early morning silence
Suddenly, a loud deafening shout
Jolts the sleepy footfalls in the school.

The we see the big commander
Trodding along the hallway,
Then each foot rushes
Down the open space.

After an ear-splitting CRRRIIIING!
The shuffling footsteps line up
Before a red, blue, white, and yellow cloth
Rising from a rope which the boys pull.

The melody they sing then turns to humming
Of gossips and updates on this and that;
Then the big, loud, exasperated voice comes again
To spread the news of the day.

And the footsteps go back to their own room
Following a straight path
Each one of them hurries to accomplish
What has not been done last night.


by Pucca Group of II-Narra

Writing Exercise: Imagery




We see brown, white, and tan hands in various sizes
all reaching out for something to eat;
dwarfing the confused woman,
who accepts their  shiny silver coins.

Then she opens a cabinet filled with multi-colored
Bottles and packets in different shapes and flavors.
And there’s the angry mob roaring for attention,
While their stomachs growl in hunger.

After being served, they scramble to get out –
satisfied like a group of sleepy dragons,
leaving the woman
back in her peaceful, solitary world.

by Peking Group of II-Acacia

09 July 2010

Guess the Picto-Idioms







Illustrations by
*Erika Lorilla, Shaira Ali Shah, Duane Balana, Dylan Degarcillanosa
*Dion Mari Comia, Wendy Manalo, Norielle Dejucos, Marc Evan Sto. Tomas
*Melissa Serina, Christine Ayala, Jill Bertis, Syla Camille Balines
*Ralph Raymund Woodrow Apodaca, Rovin Imperial, Angelica Alvarado, Amicah Relleta
*Aaron Alarcon, Allyssa Nasayao, Mary Grace Llovit, Patrick Miguel Manjares

08 July 2010

Quiz #3: Idiomatic Expressions

Complete each sentence with the correct idiom.

off the record
hit two birds with one stone
all ears
add insult to injury
for a song
ashes in one’s mouth
caught red-handed
according to Hoyle
from a to z
to the point
learned it by heart
down-to-earth


1.      When you answer questions during recitation make sure that you are ____________________.
2.       I am ____________________ when the topic of conversation is figure skating.
3.       Jana has no problem with her contest piece. She has already ____________________.
4.       She stepped on my toe then called me clumsy. Did she really have to ____________________?
5.       Millicent never lends her things ____________________.  She’ll ask you for something else in return.
6.       It’s a fair and clean competition. Everybody played ____________________.
7.       We made papier mache dolls as project. When it was returned, I gave mine to Sasha as a gift. I ____________________.
8.       During the interview, the actress asked the interviewer to keep her comments on her new projects ____________________.
9.       In music class, we were taught Philippine music ____________________. We learned everything about it.
10.   The punks were _____________________ spray-painting the building wall.





04 July 2010

II-Narra's Thoughts...

on being a Filipino in this new government


I see myself as a simple seed in a new garden. That is how I can connect myself with the government or how I portray myself in it. As a seed, I need to try my best to make the garden beautiful and the garden shall do its best to help me blossom. That can explain my simple desires to help and nurture the new government.
~Hae-rim Mae-lin Bolanos


I see myself in this new government as a small dot, too small to be seen or to be heard. A small dot, too small to be the center of attention. An insignificant dot in a sea of dots. But as these many insignificant dots come together, they may be seen, they may be heard. The previous government would not act unless televised. Well, this government promises to do something for these unseen, unheard part of society.
~John Bryan Sorreda


I see myself as the change in this nation. The government is not the only one who can make this nation a better one. Everyone can make a big change in this country. Without our help, the government will be of no use.
~Norielle Dejucos


I see myself as an individual with rights being recognized by a president. I am lucky to have a leader who listens. But I also see bestowed upon me the responsibilities of helping in the country's progress, since I believe that nothing will happen to us if we just give all the work to our leader.
~Ahra Christine Nodalo


I see in myself the change that will happen in our new government. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." to have these changes, we must start it in ourselves.
~Cyril Jill Arana


I can see myself as an important part of this new government. I call myself important because I think every Filipino is very important to the success of our country. With the help of each one of us, our country might even become a first-world country someday.
~Princess Deanne Luchavez


I see myself as a responsible Filipino. I should help the new government in my own little ways.
~Alvin Joseph Aguinaldo

II-Narra's Thoughts...

on P-Noy's Speech


I smiled as he said, "Kayo ang boss ko." I really felt happy when he said that. I guess that he's saying he'll listen to the voice of the people and consider what they really want for the success of our country.
~Ahra Christine Nodalo


I think P-Noy's speech was great. He made a lot of promises, but the one that struck me the most is his promise to raise the knowledge of Filipino children. That means so much to me because if the children become more knowledgeable, our country will become more successful.
~Princess Deanne Luchavez


I felt liberated with all those promises that the president said - promises we really hope to be kept and not to be forgotten. The line that struck me the most was "There is no reconciliation without justice." It meant a lot to me since in the past regime, justice was not equal for all. Man deserves reconciliation after being brought to justice. As quoted, "The truth shall set you free." This should be a constant principle to all men on Earth, especially the Filipinos.
~Aaron Alarcon


P-Noy's speech is filled with promises to bring the guilty to the court and make reforms in the bureaucracy in the government - to track down those who waste the people's money to useless projects. "Ang mga kalaban ko ay papatawarin ko, pero ang mga kalaban ng bayan ay wala akong karapatan magpatawad." He must not let the public enemies get away with it.
~John Bryan Sorreda


The line "Hindi pwede and pwede na" really struck me because, to me, he would want to finish every project according to its plan, not just leave it undone. For me, "pwede na" is never the right thing to say.
~Ma. Jada Soreda


His speech was outstanding. Even though it was simple, it was direct to the point. When he said "Lahat ng nangsira sa akin, pinapatawad ko na kayo," I was bestowed with the faith on our republic changing for a better one. It means a lot because the most important thing to me is that having a new president means meeting new challenges and the change that can and will occur for a better future.
~Christian de los Reyes

II-Narra's Thoughts...

and feelings on the Inauguration of the 15th President of the Philippine Republic


As a Filipino, I felt relieved by his ascent to power. I feared that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would announce Martial Law at the last minute. As this new chapter begins, the Filipinos' chests swelled with pride, savoring every moment of this historic event. 
~John Bryan Sorreda


After the inauguration, I and my family felt liberated from the grasps of corruption. We felt happy that the reign of corruption would end, and that our new leader would lead us to a prosperous nation.
~Kristian Zantua


As a Filipino, I felt that there is hope. I was overwhelmed about what happened. Even though he (President Aquino) has not started his work yet, I'm hoping that he will be a good leader. I am hoping that he will fulfill his promises. What happened yesterday symbolizes a new beginning and the unity of the Filipino people.
~ Norielle Dejucos


I felt President Aquino's will and determination to change the government. He wants prosperity in our country and wants to change the wrong leadership of the Arroyo Administration. Everyone was very hopeful; it's like putting new batteries in a flashlight.
~Kristelle Irish Mae Azurin


As a Filipino, I felt so proud that the June 30 inauguration was done successfully, with peace and unity. I even had goosebumps when I saw how the Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand supported the new president of the Philippines. I saw in their eyes their hopes that P-noy will be the one to raise the country from the mud of poverty.
~Mary Grace Llovit


I felt the rush of hope and faith in democracy when I saw hundreds of devoted supporters of our new president. The sight was one to behold for not so many Filipinos have gathered like that since the last People Power. From that moment on, I truly believed he is the symbol our nation has long yearned for, because he can make a divided nation unite as one kingdom.
~Hae-rim Mae-lin Bolanos


As a Filipino, I felt like this is going to be a good start for our country - a new beginning that will change the life of the Filipinos. It is the end of the corrupt Arroyo administration that made the people wade in the mud of poverty. I am hoping that my high expectations won't end up as expectations within his six years of governing the Philippines.
~Ahra Christine Nodalo


I felt happiness in my heart as a Filipino since it's a new era, a new hope, an imminent change and development for the Filipinos. The ceremony gave birth to a new government that made the population dream again after all those years of challenges and mistakes. It made the people hope to rise again and start a new life as a Filipino.
~Aaron Alarcon

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