It was another ordinary day at school. We had a lot to do, as usual. I fell asleep for the first time in my English class, since I was pretty bored with the topic. Actually, to be honest, almost all the topics for this quarter is boring. It poses no challenge and some of them aren’t even required in our field of study. I just don’t get the point why we have to waste our time studying things we don’t even need. Our school should have electives we can choose from. Electives, aside from enhancing and honing our skills, also gives us the chance to focus on things we really want to do and things we really want to learn about. We don’t have to be stuck in classes we don’t need to pay attention to. It also allows us to avoid sleazing and sleeping in class since our interest becomes our focal point.

Since up until nighttime I was pretty much bored, I decided to muster up the courage to make a cover. I’ve been getting around this “Cups” song by Anna Kendrick, and I’ve made a mashup out of it, featuring pop songs of today. I decided to do the cover with the theme “Rihanna” which includes singles by the said artist. 

So, I guess that’s pretty much it. Nothing so special today except for making music and meeting up with my so-called twin sister, Reanne.
If you want to listen to my cover (although it ain’t perfect) here’s the link:

https://soundcloud.com/capTENamerica

Business without borders.

The tempting idea of exporting and importing goods in partnership with fellow ASEAN countries lure us to the dream that once again, we will rise from our economic status and become one of Asia’s tigers. The idea of establishing free trade areas gives us a preview of the first world, and as we yearn to see more of it, we forget our country’s stature as a third world country and strive to get to these first world countries; thus, leaving the work force population of our country behind.

There is nothing wrong with free trade, with exporting manpower and importing goods. The Philippines is still a developing country, and it needs wads of green money in order for it to continue its development. Admit it or not, without foreign investors, our economy would not be as stable as it is today. Without innovations from other countries, we will be left behind in our primitive form of development. Our country does not have the most reliable economic standing, but we have capital. We have a labor force that we cannot brand as “cheap”. We have schools that can offer quality education. We have people who learn quickly and develop skills easily. We have people who work hard and toil to attain a better future.

These people do not deserve to be forgotten or tucked in a corner to be shipped to other countries in need of more hardworking employees to sustain their businesses. We should acknowledge these people, for we need these people. We need these kind of people to let the Philippines prosper.

We need free trade, yet we should not forget local products and local workers who will be affected by these globalized markets. We should keep in mind that these people, when faced with the threat of more industrialized societies or products that are dubbed by the Filipino people as ‘more  class and fine’, forget that their own industries are at par with their competitors. It is only the media and the mindset of the people that affect their sales and their self-esteem towards their products. The government must have the political will to impose restrictions and promote protectionism so that liberalization will not colonize our country in the means of products and services. We need free trade, but it must be put at the right place and at the right time. The government must consider if products imported in our country will affect our own trade, our local markets, our products that meet the standards to be exported. They should consider the competition that these products may bring about to local industries. Our government must also offer jobs suitable for Filipino workers and employ them decently so that not all of them will seek work in other countries. The Philippines can enter globalization, yet it could only do so when it is already the right time. We are still a developing country and once we enter globalization, there is no turning back. We are not ready yet. Our country is not stable enough to completely embrace the idea of trading with other countries. We need to mend the damages in our economy and patch up the holes in our society. We need to improve our status before presenting ourselves to the world. We need to take off ‘export qualities’ in some products. Instead, we should make all our products good for exporting with their world-class quality.

Given the right time, the right belief and the right chances, the Philippines can ally itself with other globalized countries. Right now, what it needs is a strong foundation to prepare herself for the world and for the opportunities that come along with it. It needs less of what it can see in the future. It needs more of what can be fixed in the present.

Actually, we did nothing in school today. And when I say NOTHING, I mean NOTHING. Seriously. I don’t even know why they let us come to school if they’ll only make us take the CEM Diagnostic test (which I didn’t take seriously, btw).

My mega mashup’s going pretty great. So far I’ve included six tracks minus the samplers which I will be editing in Audacity. I’m excited to be playing it in prom night since our activity coordinator agreed that we could play a song if we wanted to. (squeals and yelps)

The Rita Theater was also back in action. We had a film showing of Les Miserables since not everybody in our class had the chance to watch it.

Although it’s been my third time to view the movie and although I’ve known it before the movie, Les Mis still made me cry. It’s one of these works  of art that never gets old. The story never gets tiring to follow and the characters never get to stagnant or shallow. Even though you already know the next scene or the next twist, you keep watching it because it’s that GOOD. In Les Mis, everything is full of meaning. Every scene touches your heart and hits you hard. No wonder Victor Hugo is a complete genius.

One of the last Tuesdays.

Yeah, I know the picture looks funny. But srsly, I’ll be saying goodbye to school very soon.

Senior Year has been a real great year for me. Although I was faced with loads of schoolwork and stress, I can say that it was a year of dreams, a year of hope, a year of fun, a year of friends, and most of all, a year of finding myself.

I have often heard that it is during Senior year that you truly grow up. A childish part of you remains, but you may or may not realize, you’re not the same Freshman or gradeschooler who once trotted the halls with gay laughter and shallow joy. You’re a different person, yet the gay laughter stays. You’re born again, yet the shallow joy still comes out during uncaught moments, during sudden flashbacks or desires to go back to the past. You are not the old you anymore. You’re a much better person. You’re a better version of the outdated you.

Senior Year has taught me a lot of things that I cannot put into words. It has been a heck of a last year here at CSR, but I can say that I enjoyed it. Wherever college I might end up in sooner, I am very grateful to God for allowing me to finish school here in CSR. This may be one of the last Tuesdays or the last February 5 I am going to spend in CSR, and it may appear as if it were only an ordinary day; however, I learn to treasure the ordinary days. It’s these little details that count and make up page by page. I learn to treasure terrible Tuesdays, double-period Physics and back-to-back Math. I learn how to keep track of the time I have left, because as it turns out, I don’t have much anymore.

So, I just woke up from my nap, and I haven’t even studied for tomorrow’s first period quiz Ugh.

I feel so indolent today. I just want to rest and sleep all day. I don’t need statistics or computer codes to block my mind from calm and serene thoughts.

Anyway, I found out I got into one more school again!

I received a letter from UA&P regarding my acceptance, and they’re also offering a 50% merit scholarship because of my academic performance. I felt so happy since it was the only school who hasn’t released the results yet and because it was the last one I’ve been waiting for. I didn’t fail any school I took the test into, and for me, that’s a feat. I thank God in all these moments of triumph and for guiding me through my endeavors. It was not me who worked miracles. It was Him.

Since I passed two prestigious schools and qualified for a scholarship, I bouught myself a reward today. I got a copy of Article 5, Angel Fire, Every Day and Reached. All in hardcover bindings!(Yay!)

So I guess that’s pretty much it. I have to get myself to work. I still have two quizzes on hold. Ugh. I hope tomorrow will be a “chill” day.

Bye for now!

I woke up today and thought everything was just a dream. But it wasn’t. It was real. I passed my dream school, and yesterday really happened.

All my life I’ve been dreaming and working hard for that dream. I’ve been aiming for a good future, a published book or a work in the field of social media, and now, I’m starting to live that dream. I’m not just a dreamer anymore. I’m finally living this dream.

But I guess I will never ever stop dreaming. It’s what fuels me. It’s what drives me to bring out the best in me. It’s what leads me to change myself in order to become a better entity worthy of having those dreams. I was born to be a dreamer, but I was destined to become more than that.

The stars may seem far, but in truth, they are in our proximity. They are within our reach. We just need to stretch out a little more. If they disappear, know that stars cannot shine without darkness. We need darkness in our lives to bring out the brightest of stars.

Dream on, dreamer, and don’t you ever stop dreaming because it is these dreams that will take you to limits and prove to you that they don’t even exist.