Sea Paradise (An exercise on description)

By Lovely Mae M. Laborte, I-Mars

Swimming completes my summer and summer completes my year for it is my second most favorite part next to Christmas.

Summer for me means going to the sea.

Seas are special to me. Every time I visit one, that visit becomes very memorable to me. I love the seas because I love swimming, the thrilling things you can see under the water such as tiny fishes and starfish, the salty smell of the air, the sound of gushing waves tickling your ears and the soft, summer breeze that comforts your feelings. Most especially, I love the sea because I always get the chance to collect some unique stones or shells along the shore. Sometimes I also get to bring home a small glass of white sand. I love collections.

Relaxation is best done by the sea, a perfect runaway place from work or problems. When dawn comes, sunrise is a really pretty sight to watch particularly with its yellow orange effect on the sea and the sand. At dawn, you can also feel the cold summer breeze that soothes your skin.

If you want to feel like a child again, you have to try making sand castles or even sand angels. You can run along the seashore as fast and as long as you like because no one would care to stop you. You also have to try listening to the shells’ melody of the waves trapped in it. And as you leave the shore don’t forget to leave footprints on the sand.

I love going to the sea. Going to the sea is a really fun experience for it is a great place. I just wish that people now would take extra care of it because it would really be a waste if these waters will be polluted. Lots of marine animals would die. That would make me really sad. Let us keep the seas clean because it is our paradise.

Ma Le Petit Paradis

Gushing waves along the shore
Whispers of sound trapped in shells
A sound I’ve heard before
A story inside it, it tells

Near the shore, the sun sets
It’s dusk, time to rest
Great beauty shown is what one gets
Now, the sun’s gone to the west

My Little Paradise, My Little Paradise
You’re always dear to me
For I give you the love no one can suffice
Only to you…My sea.

Our House (An exercise on description)

By Mary Nyl P. Tiu Serra, I-Mars

The place that I remember most often is our old house in Guinobatan. It is a bit small compared to other houses, but my family is contented with it. It is a bungalow-type house. We put things that we don’t frequently use in its dark attic which serves us as a storage room.

My favorite part of our house is the flight of stairs which leads to the attic and the cold attic itself. It is where I cry when something bad troubles me. I also made myself an improvised tiny room made of big and heavy boxes in that attic. It holds too many memories. It’s where my father did his first and last (for now) disciplinary action to me. It is also where my playmates and I played (even though that place is forbidden for non-family members). I love that place.

But when typhoon Milenyo struck our place, our house (which is near a wide river) was flooded. We had no choice but to stay in the attic. I felt cozy there but then another super typhoon passed. We were supposed to stay in the attic but then the flood got higher so fast. I felt so lonely when I saw only the pointed part of our roof; our house was surrounded by the fast current of water, darkened by many debris.

Our house was destroyed; still I keep the memories in it in my heart.

A Memorable Place (An exercise on description)

By Andrew M. Rognao, I-Venus

The most memorable place for me is the Camarines Sur Wake boarding Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur. My family went there last October. CWC is a very beautiful place. It has a very big area for wakeboarding. The water is cool. How I loved watching the wake boarders perform a delightful exhibition. Many people go there everyday. The place has many small but charming cottages. The surroundings are clean. Colorful wake boards are available for rent. Lovely souvenir items are also sold in the place. I was very happy after our visit to the said place.

God Bless Ye, Merry Christmas!

Here are some video clips from the Christmas Plays presented by the Freshmen.








Callandra's First and Greatest Christmas
Cast: Calla-Herrje Soreda, Doña Carmela-Paula Ann Kaye Dairo, Amanda-Emma Louisa Pesebre, Beatriz-Mikee HannahSol Mapa, Sr. Suarez-Luigi Banua, Mr. Christophers-Austin Rey Mirabete, Dr. De Vera-Francis Jao Diaz, Propsman-Harold Kenneth Quong and the Narrator-Ashley Granadillos

A Christmas Carol
Cast: Ebenezer Scrooge-Benedict Serrano, Bob Cratchit-Adrian Napay, Fred-Daniel Flores, Tiny Tim/Little boy/Fred's child/Man-Jepee Celorico, Mrs. Cratchit/Spirit of Christmas Past/Fred's child-Kyra Ballon, Alice-Glarie Anne Flores, Anna/Fred's child-Frances Docot, Spirit of Christmas Future/Christmas Present/Fred's Wife-Mary Nyl Tiu Serra, and the Narrator-Victoria Denise Monte

and view A Cancerous Christmas here.

(there is no other movie file uploader that supports bigger files,

please watch the video only.)

A Cancerous Christmas
Cast: Mr. Laviore-Yul Anjelo Bello, Mrs. Laviore-Vimarie Mandane, Poinsettia-Lovely Mae Laborte, Mistletoe-Sushmita De Leon, Chrysanthemum-Zharina Padilla, Maria-Larra Mae Boholano, Propsmen-Keith Montas&Roman Toledana,
and the Narrator/Dr. Cruz-Jan Joseff Genduso

Images of Courage

This is from the second grading projects submitted

by the freshmen (Mars and Venus).

(captions to follow!)

Do you consider women as equals of men?

By Herrje Soreda (I-Venus)

Men can do many things. But do you know what women can do? Like in the saying “Never judge a book by its cover,” never judge a woman of what she can do because a woman can do things that we don’t know she can. Women have talents and skills that are worthy. Women can lead the world to a better future.

I consider women as equals of men. In fact, women around the world are popular and known because of their talents and skills. Just like in our country, our president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is a woman. Ada Augusta Lovelace laid some of the early conceptual and technical groundwork for high technology by helping develop an early computer. A woman, namely Mary Anderson, was awarded a patent in 1903 for a window cleaning device, a forerunner to the windshield wiper. Lizzie Magie, a woman, invented a game called “The Landlord’s Game,” a forerunner of the “Monopoly” game. Many women invented things that made our life today more beautiful and made our work much easier. In fact, many leaders around the world are women.

Others think men are more worthy than women are. But for me, men and women are just equal. The gender of a person doesn’t matter; gender can’t judge what a person can do. Men and women can make the world a better place to live in.

Do you consider women as equals of men?

By Ma. Kristina Balderama (I-Venus)

Lots of things have changed, from the Stone Age, Metal Age, up to now.

Women before were looked on as slaves or maids in the house while men were dominant to them. The men did the “important” work and women served them. But now, it has totally changed. Women now are known to the society as individuals who have great integrity, courage and bravery. Women nowadays are not just persons to clean houses but they build the home inside it. Things have changed, indeed.

Now, do I consider women as equals of men? Looking at things clearly, I can say I do. For example, we have women presidents all over the world, who, like men presidents, are doing everything to make their economies grow and their nations great. There are Filipina domestic helpers who don’t mind abuses from their bosses or employers just to send money here. There are also women soldiers. Even though they are not really in the battle field, they are there to cure the wounds of men soldiers. Some women even have multiple jobs just to support her family of six, seven, or nine because her husband cannot or doesn’t. Most importantly, women are our mothers who guide and love us.

Yes, they men and women may be different, very different from each other but what one can do can also be done by the other one. Most importantly, what one cannot do can be done by the other.

I’m not writing this in favor of women because I will be like them when I grow up. I am writing this to let them know that they are great.

And we are all equal in God’s eyes.

Ten Haiku

To express feelings,
To unleash beauty within
I wrote a haiku.

~ Gelina Rose Bambalan
~ Gelina Rose Bambalan

See the moving wheel?
It goes up, and it goes down
Just like our own lives...


Rain during the night
Sends the forest to silence
And then there is hope.
~ Ma. Jessica Perez


Dandelions fly
In the wide open grassland
Catch and make a wish.


City lights I see
Like stars in the countryside
They bring me back home.
~ Justin Dale Reolo


You gave me caress
In return, I will love you
Oh mother, I will.
~Monico Paulo Ranosa

The mark of the end
The start of a new journey
Death is in the air.

~ Stephanie Joyce Quides


As the years pass by
People forget many things
God has given us.

~ Maridel Aligan


Never be afraid
Of the darkness in your life
Fight it and be strong.

~ Vanessa Mae Llamoso


Love can't be controlled
It's a feeling you can't hold
Love must be revealed.

~ Jenna Camille Alcala

What would you visit in Japan?

Mount Fuji
By Jenna Camille E. Alcala, II-Acacia

If given a chance to visit Japan, I would like to go and see the sunrise at Mt. Fuji reflected from Lake Kagawuchi in Chubu region in Honshu, Japan. I have always been fascinated by that beautiful mountain and I would also like to feel how cold it is there since we don’t have snow here in the Philippines.

I would also like to go to the Fuji Hakore-Izu, a national park built near Mt. Fuji. Many tourists say that you can have a perfect view of Mt. Fuji there and you can ride a boat to explore the lake that surrounds the mountain. You can tell by its pictures how perfect its shape is and how the snow covers its peak.

I have also heard in history that Mt. Fuji is one of the wonders that keep Japan united, brave, and strong. That’s another reason why I picked Mt. Fuji as the place in Japan to go to.

The Land of the Rising Sun
By Gelina Rose Bambalan, II-Acacia

I have read and heard so much about Japan, that is why my greatest dreams include visiting Japan, “The Land of the Rising Sun.” I am amazed at the industry and discipline of the Japanese. There is no wonder why Japan is also known to be the Industrial Giant of Asia.

If I am given the opportunity to visit this country, I would not miss the chance to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two cities that suffered much from atomic bombing during the Second World War. Through these cities we can see how resilient the Japanese are for they were able to recover from those bombings.

I will also visit the tallest mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji and the famous Lake Kawaguchi. It became famous for its inverted image of the mountain that is reflected on its waters.

I will also not miss the chance to see the different kinds of Japanese architecture, such as the Horyuji Temple in Nara. I have read that it is rectangular in plan and consists of open pavilion locked by its own upward curving roof.

Through reading books about Japan, I learned so much about the country and reading is like taking a tour of Japan. It would be much better, however, if it is for real and I could truly see the wonders found in Japan.