BRIGADA ESKWELA 

      Before the school year starts here in the Philippines, the public, and even the private school, elementary and secondary level undergo a "Brigada Eskwela." Upon enrollment starting for the month of May and June every parent really help to repair and repaint classrooms, fix broken chairs and tables and clean up school surroundings, so that when the class start, everything is already prepared. Brigada Eskwela is a Bayanihan among parents, teachers, students and other agencies involved. It also emphasize the importance of school sanitation and hygiene and improvement of toilets and wash facilities

        For me, it is a bright idea of the government by implementing this program considering the fact that all were participating. It is hard to connect other people when you have not experienced getting along with them especially in our community. The program of DepEd continues to draw the interest and support of various sectors. More volunteers join in the effort and more donations of construction materials such as paint, cement, and lumber needed to minor repairs.

 K-12 PROGRAM

            Many parents reacted and disagreed on this as implemented by Department of Education. Starting the school year 2012-2013 current education system of the Philippines will be enhanced from the 10 years of basic education into 12 years. Department of education said that this curriculum is the key to our nation's development, but I am wondering how will the Philippine come up with the money to build new classrooms and I think it is still the problem as of today. However, I just hope that the government should really support this by providing more shool supplies and well-trained teachers that loved their work. If the government is really serious about this change then they should focus in providing funds. Yes, we really need K-12 education system for us to develop more our skills. But the fact is we are lacking facilities. What we must do now is to help our government improve the K-12 system.

          Senior high school students can choose a field that they are good and that they are interested in. They will be equipped with the skills needed for a specific job even without a college degree. If we base on long term effect of K-12 we can conclude that it is very beneficial to us Filipinos, so we must have strong will in supporting K-12 Educational plan for the good of our education system and economy.

                 
                      SAVE ENVIRONMENT

         Our environment is constantly changing, because of the different types of weather patterns that we are facing now. People need to be aware of what type of environmental problems our planet is facing today. The government encourages people to make proper waste disposal that is why they implemented the segregation of waste. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and dumping their waste in the ocean. Waste disposal is one of the urgent current environmental problem. Tree is a must in our country; our forests produce fresh oxygen as well as helps in regulating temperature and rainfall, so avoid illegal logging, we have experienced now El Niño because of that problem. The local government should implement rules and penalties in cutting of tress.

        Commonly water is very important to us, as today agricultural practices make use of chemical products like pesticides and fertilizers that cause local pests especially the plantation of bananas and pineapple, some of the chemicals when sprayed do not disappear but seeps into the ground and the result, contaminated water is used for irrigation by farmers due to disposal of industrial and agricultural waste in local areas, this activities pollute water that is used by humans, animals, and plants so we openly got sick.

               So many things to be considered to save our environment it is most normally connected with the things that people do, with or without the effect of human exercises where they can’t help the life that is supposed to live there. Areas expose to toxic, air pollutants can cause respiratory problems like pneumonia and asthma. Millions of people are known to have died due to indirect effects of air pollution. We can take actions to stop and take care of the world that we live in by providing environmental education to the people who will help them pick familiarity with their surroundings that will enable them to take care of the environment.
 

                                      NO TO BBL!

  

            

         Mindanao is for the Philippines and Philippines is for the Mindanao. Bangsamoro Basic Law. What is it all about? Does our information with this law be enough to say that it should be implemented? When I heard about this law, I didn’t have any interest with it. This topic in the media is like an air for me passing through my ears and then gone. I’m not interested at all. I don’t really care, but when this BBL was elaborated by one of the tribal leaders in our Province, then at that moment I told myself I will always say “NO TO BBL.” Why? Because I believe, we Christians has the right to practice our beliefs and faith in this land of Mindanao. It should never be an Islamic State but rather this land should always be the land of God, the Father of Abraham. Until now, this law was not being realized by the court because of the provisions under it. The indigenous people and tribal leaders are fighting to protect this land from any threat that Muslims can cause especially the radicals who practice Holy war.

            

               I believe that this law is not the solution for peace it can only cause division for the people living in Mindanao. Beyond any threat, I believe that we are fighting a good fight because in the first place God is victorious and He is in control.

Death Penalty in the Philippines?

             Several days ago the Philippines focuses on the verdict of Mary Jane Veloso to pursue the condemnation of death. But because of the prayers and support of the Filipino people the penalty was postponed and given the opportunity to review her case. This issue informed the whole world of what would be the consequences of your acts against the law. Many countries including the Philippines who abolished the death penalty because it is said that it is against the life. So how important our lives are? If we commit a major offense is it necessary to put you to death? For me, our lives are very important because it is a valuable gift that the Lord has given to us. Before, I think why is death penalty exist.  The criminals should be given an opportunity to live in this world. Even all of us were forgiven by God even though we have committed sins against His Holly Will. Even though, we are sinful but our God still love us and He sacrificed His own Son in order for us to have salvation. So I realized how important our lives are.

       But while I'm growing and witnessed the different crimes that are happening. I realized that Death Penalty is very useful. I know that many of us would not want to have a death penalty in the Philippines, but I admit that it has a good effect to our country.  I did not say that I'm against the life but if there is a death penalty the people will be disciplined, as what Senator Sotto who wants to have a death penalty bill said that "Pro-life ako for the unborn, pro-life ako sa family. Pero hindi ako pro-life for heinous criminals." I agree with him if there's a death penalty the crimes will be reduced. But I'm very sure that there's a lot of government official that will hinder the death penalty bill because they will afraid that they can't corrupt anymore.

          Actually, if we think it deeply, there's nothing to lose if there's a death penalty in the Philippines because if nothing will commit crimes then no one will be sentenced to death.

             All of us have our own opinion. Many of us want to have a death penalty and others may not, but the most important is we should always think what we are doing if it is correct or against the law. Even though there's no death penalty if we are responsible enough and we discipline ourselves then we will become successful. 

           

          

       

  NO TO TERRORISM

              We always heard the news on the television and radio about the fight of the police and soldiers against the terrorists and rebels. There’s a lot of civilians were being affected of this encounter and many were killed. One of the most painful encountered that shocked the entire Philippines is the incident in Mamasapano where 44 SAF troopers were being killed brutally. 44 brave men sacrificed their lives just to arrest the terrorists. 44 lives in exchange for those worthless people. Salary is not the reason why they joined in the Special Action Force, but they joined in order for us to be protected. I hope that all of the police and soldiers were being inspired by the 44 SAF Troopers.

               What really are the goals or shall we say the aim of the terrorist? Why do they like violating our laws? Why do they things that can harm us? These are just some questions that we would like to ask. Maybe they don’t like the government because they feel that there is no equality and justice in our nation. But war is not the solution to achieve equality, justice, peace, etc. Even our National Hero, Doctor Jose Rizal is against the war because he doesn’t want that blood will be the price of peace. All of us were being affected by the selfishness of our brothers and sisters in the government. Corruption, injustice,  etc. we have experienced it all, but most of us does not do anything that can harm to our countrymen.

                                                         
                             Contraception

             Contra means against, ception is conceiving life. That is why we have the word contraception, against the life. Many people engaged in using contraceptives, may be  they are not prepared or may be for some women they don't like to bear a child because it might disfigure their body and some would have the feeling that it can take much of their time to have a child. In the church perception, they would not tolerate this kind of practice because this is aborting the plans of God because God intends to fill this world with people. The church believes that life starts when there is meeting of sperm and egg cell and nothing should be done against that life. The stand of the Church remains that this is really against the moral law and even God's law. God is the author of life and nobody should be taking away that life as He is the one who creates lives. The Church is really against any activity or undertaking that could hinder, that would block and go against the plan of God.

               In the government perception, RH Law is one of the keys to minimizing overpopulation that can lead to poverty. The governments blame overpopulation as one of the causes of poverty. But many of us would not agree with this because if there is a proper distribution of wealth, if there is only an eradication of corruption, then that money being stolen by some of our brothers and sisters in the government  would have been shared to the people. If this money stolen by them is being shared to everyone then it can minimize poverty. Also those people who are rich, they should be generous, they should share what they have because that is what God intends for them to become rich so that by being rich they can share their blessings to other people. In general, overpopulation is not the problem but rather the selfishness.

               All of us have many opinions about contraception, but we should always remember that we need to be responsible enough of what we are doing and choose the right decision. We should always pray to God and ask guidance. To avoid in engaging such activity, we need to know our limitations.

Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines

                           

              

               When he step down in the land of Philippines it feels so blessed to the Filipinos because one of the messengers of Christ has come to us, to help us and make our faith to God stronger. Many Filipinos welcomed him also those who are only in their houses just like me. We are very thankful for this opportunity to be blessed by the Holy Father, even though many of us were not there to see him personally.

               His encounter with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas was another event where he saw and felt the sincerity of the poor to send a true and touchable messages to him. The Holy Father emphasized to the youth that we need to know how to cry and weep in order to be a good Christian. All of us need to cry and weep for those who have problems especially the poor. We should relate to those people left to the side while crying. I realize that we need to learn how to empathize with the poor and the underprivileged. We need to act selfless giving like what Jesus had done. He also said that we lack thing which is to become a beggar. It means that we need to practice the value of being given because we are not perfect then we need help from other, we need the help of those people like the poor. The poor possessed many things that high or middle class of people may not have. For example, the poor have much wisdom which they have learned from their experiences. Maybe we don’t have this kind of wisdom that is why it is very important to interact with them and treat them as how we treat ourselves. The most important thing that I have learned is we should not blame God of what we had experienced, instead let us always pray to God, be more faithful to God and move on. As what Pope Francis said that God always be there for us. That is why we should always think that God is with us, guiding us always in our decisions and protecting us from any evil things.

           There are many lessons that I have learned from Pope Francis. I will try my very best to apply those things that he teaches to us. The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines leaves memories of the faithful who gathered themselves to listen to his fruitful message. I hope that this is not the end of Pope’s effect to us but a beginning to be like him, to be a messengers of God, to be a good model to everyone and to be a good students which is the hope of the nation.

CORRUPTION

         What is corruption? Corruption involves the abuse use of entrusted power for self-interested gain. This is done by useless government officials. They take our hard-earned wealth.  Do they know its effects? Well, they did not feel us. Many of us become poorer because of corruption. They are only thinking of their own interest. If they are in our position, what do they feel? What do they do? Maybe they were also complaining like us. I'm sure they also suffer as we are experiencing now. Corruption is like a disease that is killing our country and destroying the lives of many people. Why do the officials do it? They are not only the one who have dreams but also us, ordinary people who want to become successful in our lives. They know it is sinful because it is contrary to God’s design for creation. They were given the opportunity by the Lord to serve our nation and help the poor to prosper life. But what happened they abused their position and power. They were sitting only in their offices.  

        Actually, there are many possible and simple solutions to prevent corruption. We can prevent corruption by starting with the young to be disciplined so that they will not become corrupt officials someday. The parents should guide their children on how to become a good citizens in our country. We should help them to possess and develop the values of honesty, transparency, etc. By this, at the young age they will carry this values until they will grow and become the leaders of our country. While serving our nation they can apply this values and avoid many temptations. 
         We should not vote those people who have dirty hands to handle our country. We should not sell our vote to those politicians who have an evil intention in running for power and position because our country will be ruined. All of us should always remember that God gives us graces so that we will share it back to others.

           

VIRGINITY

       Virginity is the state of a person who has never had any sexual experience or intercourse with any partner.
      We are now living in a modern world, a world where most people follow the Western tradition, including the fact that they are liberated people and they enter sex at a very young age. In the old generation, they value sex as an activity done after marriage, but in our generation today, premarital sex is viral. Young people these days think that sex is accompanied with love, thus, many young people lose their virginity. The young generation today no longer give value to virginity, most of them lose its essence, the essence that is tied with the Biblical fact that sex must only be done after marriage. Virginity is very important because it shows that you are pure and smart enough to understand that being a virgin is the precious gift that you can offer to your partner after marriage.
       Actually, social media nowadays have been influenced many teenagers to enter premarital sex because they become curious about the feeling of entering that activity.
       We can't judge all of those people who lose their virginity because there are instances that you did not intend to lose your virginity. Like, for example, you lose your virginity because you have been a victim of rape.
       Yes, we are all sinners, and live a sinful life, but we must not forget that we have a choice, a freedom to choose. Losing or preserving our virginity is a matter of choice and a matter of perspective. The common denominator is that, we are all born virgin, but our length of time in remaining virgin depends on us, it depends on ourselves. As a whole, virginity is an important thing that we possess, yet, has been losing its essence nowadays. We should always remember to preserve our virginity until our marriage. Let's be patient and value virginity.