A Fable for Tomorrow

Coming To an Awareness of Language

Macolm X - Flowchart

Personal Essay

Why is Math so hard?

For the first few months that I began studying at Muntinlupa Science Highschool, i bombarded with 70’s, and I’m not talking about the decade. Yep, I received failing grades in the first semester, especially in calculus, and statistics. But mostly it was calculus. To be honest, I did my all when it came to Sir Docs lectures, but I just couldn’t seem to follow the first time around. I was actually surprised on how my classmates were able to stand up recite, and answer those difficult equations on the black board. Man was I culture shocked.

I remember the time when I managed to steal a few minutes of my math teacher Sir Doc. This was so that I could have a one on one tutoring with him. Ah yes, Conic sections my favorite. I had so much trouble trying to do basic algebra that Sir Doc was surprised at how I even graduated the 10^th grade. I was so down back then, and so disappointed in myself. Why didn’t I listen to my math teacher back in junior high? Oh how I regret those days when I was basically sleeping in most of their lectures.

To be honest, I like math. It’s just not my thing you know. I don’t understand why people hate it so much, but now I know why. Let me flashback to another glimpse of my episode as Gene the math dunce. It was during our remedial in pre-calculus that I had the opportunity to lift my extremely heavy grades to at least a 75 higher. It was all about exponential rules which I enjoyed. It was one of my favorite topics (maybe because it was the only thing I understood). So yeah, basically I still struggled with math.

But if there’s one thing I learned other than sleeping during lectures, and creating straight failing marks, is that you won’t improve if you don’t really immerse yourself, let alone step outside your comfort zone. You need that step, in order to spread your wings anew. So yes I still have difficulty with mathematics but at least I’m able to follow the lectures, and solve a few equations here and there. Another thing I’ve learned is that life isn’t all about math, or engineering, or equations. It’s what you love that improves you. So even though math is hard, I love it in its complicating difficult way. 

Reflection

Looking Back...

I'd never thought learning could be this enjoyable. The past two semesters with Mrs. Alxen was stupendous. Our first semester was all about Oral Communication, here we learned how to be an exceptional speaker, as well as knowing the different types, and parts of speech. This semester was actually cool because here we divided into different groups, and we would always report about the topic at hand. Then after reporting, we were required to do a play presentation where each group would be given a chance to enact the examples of speech, as well as giving each group member a chance to show their acting skills.

 It was fun i tell you, i enjoyed seeing my classmates show their funny side, and at the same time their true personalities. I also remembered watching the movie titled "The Great Debaters". Me and my group mates watched it together at my house. "Who is the judge? the judge is God! Why is he God? Because he decides who wins or loses" I simply adore that quote from the movie. But who could forget about the job fair? Here we were given an opportunity to make our own company, and even recruit our classmates though a job interview. It was a heck load of experience, and loads of fun altogether.

Second Semester was purely based on write ups and outputs. We learned how to paraphrase, summarize, and even criticize. We also learned about the difference between biographies, and literature's. Basically, this is where we learned how to do professional reading, critical reading, and many more. Even though the write ups and outputs nearly kept us busy, and even stress out, i enjoyed it. Lastly, i want to give thanks to our teacher Almira Xenia Cunado, or Ma'am Alxen, for teaching us how to speak effectively, how to learn effectively, and even write professionally. In the midst of all the stress, time, and deadlines (Not to mention quipper) It was all worth it in the end. I'd also like to thank my fellow group mates, and classmates for the fun and cooperation, as well as the laughs we shared together. Who knows? Maybe we'll all be great speakers, and writers someday, It's just a matter of time, and practice. Power.



Photo credits to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1225020177531444/photos/

The Story of Babbage

So it was the first day of school, most students are excited about going to school and attending the flag ceremony.

The sun shone bright upon the myriad of students standing in front of the Philippine Flag as they sang the National Anthem; Lupang Hinirang.

The weather was perfectly still, the echoes of laughter and chitchats covered the area after the flag ceremony shortly ended.

Silence Filled the area as the principal greeted each and every MunScian a happy morning.

For grade 11 students, who were munscians to begin with, the principals greeting was nothing more than a sermon.

But for the “newbies”, that sermon was no doubt a very important reminder, until…

Something caught up the principal’s attention, she noticed that there were so many “lates”. Almost half of the munsci population. So she decided to put her attention to the latecomers.

She asked the officer in-charge to count the number of latecomers.

Afterwards, she dismissed the other students for them to start their classes, leaving the latecomers behind.

The stuents of the Babbage section went to their classroom. They all sat on their seats. The whole room was enveloped by utter silence – something unbeknownst to the typically loud students.

The students of Babbage were quiet because they noticed that Sr. Bundoc had an angry look on his face.

Tension rised as soon as sir Doc spoke his bone chilling voice. It made everyone quiver with fear.

After a while, he prepared the projector then started the power point presentation.

He started the lesson by asking one of the students about the lesson. But the only answer he got was silence.

Although he was very annoyed, Sr. Doc pretended that he’s chill and continued with the discussion.

He was in the middle of his discussion when he noticed that everyone was looking at the door. He slowly turned his head at where everyone was looking, he smiled.

As if things couldn’t get anymore disappointing, half the section of Babbage was seen outside. They were all late.

The latecomers greeted Sr. Doc with a good morning and apologized for being tardy. Sr. Doc looked at them and said

“Before I can allow all of you to enter, you must do an impromptu performance first”

But they refused.

So Sr. Doc got angrier, So he proposed another task.

After a few minutes of humiliation and laughter, they finished the task. Allowing sir doc to let him in.

Then they went down to the canteen all together but there was no more seats available.

So they decided to eat outside.

After they bought Mojos and iced tea they went to eat in the nipa hut but…

A guard asked them, “What do you think your doing here?”

Drenched in sweat and filled with confidence he replied "were just chilling eating out lunch, we can eat here right?"

Yes but the principal wants all of you in her office.

He replied "I think we don’t have time for that"

"But with all due respect for you and madam, okay we will go in her office for the apology" he added. Suddenly, the fire alarm started to ring so loudly then all students went back off, panicked and ran all around. Then they all realized it was a false alarm because someone pushed the button without any emergency purpose.

But even if it was just a false alarm, certain accidents happened, one student accidentally slipped that results to bone fracture

then all the teachers panicked and went out to a place where they are safe.

In the midst of all the ruckus, Sir Gallang, a teacher of T.L.E proceeded with the lesson.

Some of the students didn’t listen, and did crazy things such as one who accidentally drank feric chloride in a bottle of iced tea.

The student rushed into the hospital and Sir Gallang was worried. He got mad and disappointed with his students because they should have just listened to his lesson.

Someone informed Sir Gallang that everything is alright. So Sir Gallang felt happy and none to worry anymore. The students went back to school from hospital and proceed doing some school works and attended the next class.

Sir Gallang saw Jewel talking to Russele about what happen to the student who accidentally drank ferric chloride.

He asked them; “What do you two know about the person who took the bottle of ferric chloride from the science lab?

"He thought that it was an iced tea so he didn't bother smelling it. He gulped the drink to it's last drop until he suddenly felt something inside his stomach, something mysterious enough to make him act like a zombie. He rushed to the comfort room to try to vomit the liquid but a sudden burst of hiccup erupted with such force that his jaw slipped from its right hinge and wagged halfway off his skull. That's about everything we know sir" "The last line about his jaw was a lie tho".

So Sir Gallang returned to his class. Meanwhile, Sir Doc was feeling very parched when he saw a half empty “iced tea” bottle on the table, and well… you know the rest.

Argumentative Essay

"Killing is not the solution"

In Todays society, Drugs have been known as a major issue that is needed to be dealt with. Many people who abuse the substance for money, exploitation, and enjoyment have run rampant around our city streets. That is why on May 9, 2016, newly elect President Rodrigo Duterte has sworn to tackle the drug problem by executing what he calls the “War on Drugs”. He vows to kill every single drug lord, dealer, and user in 3 to 6 months in order to solve the problem.

As of December, 2016, months after Duterte assumed office; police records show that 5, 882 people were killed in the “War on Drugs” in the Philippines. These do not include cases that are yet to be reported by the police. Of that number 2,041 drug suspects were killed during police operations from July 1 to December 6, while another 3,841 were killed by unknown gunmen from July 1 to November 30, according to a local website. Among the latest fatalities was a seven-year-old child on the island of Cebu, who was hit by a stray bullet on December 3, while unknown gunmen were chasing a teenage boy accused of selling drugs. 

Almost six months after President Duterte assumed office in June 30, the death toll on the war on drugs has reached to nearly 6,000. Recently, many human rights groups have criticized the President, denouncing him as “steamrolling the rule of law”. Catholic leaders and churches have also spared their shares of criticism against Duterte. When Duterte assumed office in June 30, he mentioned in his campaign that he does not care about human rights as quoted "I don't care about human rights, believe me."

As of December 31, 2016, records show a sum of 6,216 people that have been killed in the drug war. 4, 049 of those were victims of extrajudicial or vigilante style killings, while 2,167 were suspected drug personalities killed in police operations. Many families have lost their loved ones, many have yet to mourn since the bodies were yet to be uncovered, and many have yet to receive justice for being wrongly accused. Based on my observation for the past several months that this so called “reign of terror” has continued to progress in our country, I am deeply grieved and at the same time angered.

Of all the lives that have been lost due to killing without due process, of all the innocents that are accidentally caught in the crossfire because policemen believed that he will earn more if he kills more, of all the people who believe in God but support this, how could you be so hypocritical? Drugs are an issue but at the same time curable. There are many ways to rehabilitate a person who has already taken the substance. But unfortunately, our President is looking for an easy open way into the problem by mercilessly killing thousands who are yet to be confirmed as actual users. Based on my observations, this was never a war to begin with, but genocide.

Sources
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/rodrigo-duterte-human-rights-160806211448623.html

http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/145814-numbers-statistics-philippines-war-drugs

Authors Profile and Personal Biases

Andres Bonifacio

He is considered to be one of the most influential and iconic persons in the Philippine revolution, as well as the one who founded La Liga Filipina in 1892. In his younger years, he has been fond of reading books and other literary works. He has absorbed in the teachings of classic rationalism from the works of Jose Rizal, Victor Hugo’s Les’ Miserables, Eugene Sue's The Wandering Jew, books on the French Revolution, and the lives of the presidents of the United States, Bonifacio acquired an understanding of the dynamics of the sociohistorical process. This was the reason that he organized La liga Filipina.

He has written many literary works in his time, most were influenced by reading the French revolution. Therefore, I can say that Andres Bonifacio was indeed a good author in his time. His works have influenced many to stand up and face the oppressors.

Carlos P. Romulo

He was once a young lad whom vowed to never smile at an American soldier because of the American Revolution which took place after the Spanish revolution in the Philippines. Afterwards his anger lessened when he managed to befriend an American Seargant. He was an aide de camp to General Douglas McArthur. As a journalist, he wrote a series of articles which won him a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Distinguished Correspondence, and it was MacArthur himself who delivered to his friend the good news.

As a writer, he authored sixteen books, two plays, and several poems. In 1982 he was named a National Artist for Literature by the Philippine government. Therefore I can strongly say that Carlos P. Romulo is one of the most iconic authors in Philippine history.

Memoire

Lego Land - A scary experience

I remember the time when Mom and i had the privilege of visiting Lego Land in Malaysia. There were so many rides, events and of course Legos! Lego gift shops, monuments, characters, rides anything you could think of.

 We ate after a while, my Mom and i decided to ride the Jungle Log Jam, where you get to experience splashing down the water at an incredible speed. So we got into this small machine operated car which sits about two to four persons. Then after getting strapped in we were on our way. bumping and splashing around, taking a gentle cruise throughout the ride with my shoes getting soaked, making me wish that i had bought an extra pair of socks. 

At first it was a few minutes of fun until we finally ascended to the top just before we make the final splash down. So here it is, we entered the tunnel and i could see the gate a few meters away,  and got a bit scared and excited at the same time. As we got near the gate which was opening, awaiting for the car to splash down, ours suddenly got stuck to the edge. It was a very long moment for me and my Mom. The gate was continuously opening and closing, and i could see the 50 foot drop below the falls.

Then as things couldn't get any worse, the next batch of cars which contained different people started piling up behind ours. Continuously bumping car after car that ours was being pushed slowly to the edge. I panicked and simply screamed "help", since i didn't know the bahasa indonesia word for help. 

The car behind us was of a chinese family, and one young girl was small enough that she managed to slip past the metal safety harness. She carefully climbed above the platform safe from the doom that awaits us. As cars continue to pile up behind us, i just closed my eyes and prayed for a miracle. Luckily the gate in front of us had a metallic grill which was raised, so even if we were pushed to the edge, our cart would still be blocked by that metallic grill.

Minutes later, park officials arrived and raised the metal harnesses from every cart. Me and my Mom got out safely, and the park manager apologized sincerely for the incident. I couldn't be more thankful enough to God that he saved me and my Mom from a potential accident. It truly was a terrifying experience, and i don't think i'll be able to ride the jungle log in enchanted kingdom in a few years.

Credo

Gene's 10 Rules for Human Fulfillment

Rule 1.

Acknowledge your weaknesses, and hone your strengths. For your talents are both given, and also earned.

Rule 2.

Do not be discouraged by one another. Instead work hard, and push your limitations until you both reach the top.

Rule 3.

Stress is inevitable, you can either yield or adapt. Visualize your goals and dreams, then stress will only become an obstacle for success.

Rule 4.

Be a good person, not a hypocrite. For God would rather prefer a  kind atheist than a hypocritical church goer.

Rule 5.

Money is not everything, and wealth is earned. Just because a person has studied journalism does not mean that he will earn less than an engineer. 

Rule 6.

Do what you love, and follow what you do. Acknowledge your skills and put them to the job that suits you. For someday, you might not have to work a day at all.

Rule 7.

Be true to thyself. One does not need to put on a mask in order to please other insecurities. Be proud and show the real you. For it is by personality, and heart that one is the most attractive.

Rule 8.

Love will come. Do not commit to a person whom you  believe to be the one. Instead, wait for the right one to come in God's timing.

Rule 9. Family comes first. Love your parents because you love them, not because they provided for you. Love your siblings because you love them, not because they are your siblings. Treasure and protect each other till the end.

Rule 10.  

Do not worry about the future or what will soon come. Instead, worry about today, cherish the past and do what you love. What you do now will be your future.

Comparative Essay

King James and the Black Mamba

The NBA or National Basketball Association, is a predominant men's professional basketball league in North America. It is also considered as the premier league throughout the world. AS the years ho by, many talented and professional basketball players left a mark throughout NBA history. Legendary players such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O' Neal, Magic Johnson and many more.

Therefore it is safe to say that the fans are looking for top players who can go head to head with each other. These are players who can be compared with the most scores, playoffs, seasons, and all-star games. many have considered Kobe Bryant, with his twenty year career with Los Angeles Lakers. Running from 1997 until 2016. And LeBron James, who just started out in 2003 but managed to quickly rise to the top as one of the most currently known throughout player in the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

In terms of NBA championships and seasons, there's no question that Kobe has Lebron beat. However, LeBron James did manage to go head to head in terms of awards won. Now in terms of NBA season statistics, LeBron has scored the most per game. Nearly over ranking Kobe in rebounds, steals and assists.

To conclude, Kobe Bryant does have the upper hand when faced to fae with LeBron in terms of NBA championships, but Lebron makes up for his regular season stats. Whats more is that Kobe Bryant has just recently retired from his twenty year career in the NBA, and LeBron James has just started out in 2003. Therefore, it is safe to say that Lebron James has improved much faster in a span of 13 years, and has caught up to Kobe who took 20 years to create his mark in the NBA. 

As of now, Kobe Bryant is happily married to his wife Vansessa, along with two children, and a babay expected. Even though he just retired in April, Kobe said that he's still staying in shape by doing running, treadmills, and interval training. In the meanwhile, LeBron James is still running with the Cavaliers. Showing no signs of retirement, LeBron still hopes to play against many foes in his yearlong streak in the NBA.

Sources
http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/kobe_bryant_vs_lebron_james.htm