A New Normal Celebration

            For a variety of people around Vigan, Metro Vigan or even the whole Ilocos Sur, this season of cultural celebrations will be radically different as governments prohibit or forbid big gatherings and encourage people to stay home to slow down or avoid the spread of COVID-19.

            Hordes of visitors from other parts of the Philippines as well with foreigners will come here to witness the festivities like parades and street dancing. One of the parades celebrated is the Education Day Parade for the purpose is to highlight the importance of education and street dancing. There are also food fairs, arts and crafts exhibits, as well as a visiting carnival. We can no longer do these activities because of the pandemic and I’m like here reminiscing about the past—the old noise of the city, the energy and excitement of people when an artist comes here, heat for the crowd is too big, smell, sweat, dust of the ground and the persuasion of vendors.

            It is quite sad that we can’t do the activities as before but luckily amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the city government of Vigan has made a way to still celebrate it. Last January 25— the feast day of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, Vigan conducted Misa Concelebrada at St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. If the activities were kept face to face previously, now it is conducted via virtual since the physical activities are deferred. Celebrations are still important even in this pandemic and this pandemic literally changing the way people celebrate major events. For the time being, the most important thing we have to do is to be careful, follow the implemented protocols and be safe at all times.

References:

https://www.facebook.com/vigancityph/photos

https://trip101.com/article/best-things-to-do-in-vigan-philippines

New Adventure

            When the year 2021 came, I’ve seen a lot of my     Facebook friends’ posts with a caption “New Year, New Me.” It seems like most of them have agreed to improve their life this year. It feels like this is the right time for self-improvement as the New Year rolls around. I assured myself that this year will be different.

            Through the past years, I've lived my life with toxicity,   pleasing others, always think negatively and being affected by the others opinion of me. Those were the years that have   given me grief and molded me to be a well-rounded and   matured young lady. It may be a rough year for me but I've learned a lot and I'm grateful that I survived and healed.

              I'm the type of person who sets a New Year's Resolution but it always end up unfulfilled. But I wanted to look at New Year's Resolutions differently this year and decided to do stuffs in God’s will. This year, I want to see myself to improve better, grow up to be a great person, make my own decisions and choose the right path. I will continue what I’ve started in 2020 which is to continue my business, become more productive each day, I will make all the people around me proud including myself, avoid toxic people who brings negativity into my life and stay positive even during rough times. I will start each day of the year with hope, feelings of satisfaction and contentment that would make me more optimistic and happier person.

            The new me will be a person who has a unique personality that may represent the lively, spontaneous and energetic with reflective, critical and concentrated side. I want to be the person who can take care of others, encourage them in every way possible to achieve their goals in life. My new year's resolution not only focus to help me eradicate my poor habits but to adopt the healthy ones. Lastly, I will make sure that I will have a bright future ahead of me.

Photo references:

https://pin.it/41APBEL

https://pin.it/686PUxe

https://pin.it/DHnaBcP

emalayn sent Yesterday at 5:54 PMhttps://pin.it/686PUxe

An Experience

            Learning amidst pandemic is really hard for every student like me since we are not ready for this school year, but DepEd still pushes it because they said that they will not let the children nothing to learn within this pandemic. For the first time in my whole life, I got to experience this kind of education where you can also learn a lesson.

            All throughout this 1st Quarter in ICT, I learned how to write blogs which trains me to broaden my knowledge in giving opinions, ideas and thoughts about a certain topic. To critique a blog in a manner way that enabled me to connect to other people

             In learning, students will inevitably encounter a problem. As I experienced, this new normal type of education is really stressful and hard. Being in a classroom helps me to concentrate than modular learning, I find it more difficult to understand the lesson. There were times when I have to skip meals and to sleep late at night just to finish all the given tasks. During the first week, I am having a difficulty in managing my time, but as time goes by, I finally able to adapt by making a daily schedule.

            There is no challenge that we cannot survive. I will take all the lessons with me throughout my life for it taught me how to stand on my own and be the better version of myself.

Photo References:

The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Unleashed A Revolution In Education: From Now On, Blended Learning Will Be The Benchmark, Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2020/04/13/the-coronavirus-pandemic-has-unleashed-a-revolution-in-education-from-now-on-blended-learning-will-be-the-benchmark/?sh=724d286536fd

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/4/16/17233860/night-owl-chronobiology-sleeping-late-health-risk

Dealing with Stress: Know the Hidden Symptoms, Retrieved from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/hidden-symptoms-of-stress.html

Awareness towards Nature Contemporary Issues

            Climate Change and Global Warming are one of the concurrent issues in Philippines that people and the government should take it solemnly and which should be given a solution. Global warming refers to the spike in global temperatures due largely to the rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. While Climate Change is the rising changes, including precipitation, temperature and wind patterns, in climate observations over a long period of time.

            Rising of sea levels, floods, and frequent storms are just some of the effects of this. It also becomes a problem for farmers because it will result to a shortage of water supply that their plant (rice) needed. Drought affects the height of the rice, the number of grains, and the content of the grains. But how to deal with this problem if we—people ourselves are one of the reasons why the climate is changing? If people are unaware that through their own personal lifestyle choices is slowly affecting the nature? 

            If awareness only exists, we will be able to overcome the challenges of Climate Change and Global Warming.  As a student, for me to raise awareness is to use social media platform ‘cause I know that when you use social media to raise awareness, it will have a good impact and get people’s attention. I will post contents that are related to the issue to inform and educate youths of today about what is happening here in the Philippines and also for them to know what they can do to help solve the problem.

            Saving the earth is a global concern and should be treated as one. We must continue to spread awareness and be active in participating any activity related to protecting the nature to ensure that future generations have a better world to live in.

Photos retrieved from: 

Climate Change, Global Warming and Role of Volunteers on Mitigating these Issues, Retrieved from https://www.volunteerfdip.org/climate-change-global-warming-and-role-of-volunteers-on-mitigating-these-issues

Sotheary, P and Times, K (2020). Rice farmers struggle during drought season, Retrieved from https://www.khmertimeskh.com/700262/rice-farmers-struggle-during-drought-season/

Osmanski, S (2019). These Are the Causes of Global Warming, Retrieved from https://www.greenmatters.com/p/global-warming-causes

Preparedness

        "I think drills are one of the most important parts of an earthquake plan. They allow you to see how well things operate and to correct any problems. When an earthquake happens it is too late to discover that parts of your plan may not work." —Ron Staley

          Preparation has always been the long process of every event that happens in our life. Although, no matter how prepared you are, when unexpected phenomena such as earthquake strikes without warning, everyone's life will change just like a wind blows yet leaving its traces to show how destructive it is. Being attentive and doing life protecting actions must be taken immediately to survive this disaster. 

         Taking part to do your role as an individual in National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill program of the government is indeed relevant for no one knows what does the future holds. Praying and having a genuine faith in Him is one of the secrets to surpass this battle. Let's not forget to honor and glorify Him for always keeping our land safe.

           

References: 
http://quake.ualr.edu/schools/guide/section6a.htm

Photo references:

Manila quake drill for the 'Big One,' Retrieved from  https://www.straitstimes.com/world/manila-quake-drill-for the-big-one

Legarda: Take Metro-wide Earthquake Drill Seriously, Retrieved from https://lorenlegarda.com.ph/legarda-take-metro-wide-earthquake-drill-seriously/

Philippines for the better

             Philippines is an archipelago, it has different cultures, values and beliefs that makes foreign people attracted in this country. It is a democratic country founded in Southeast Asia. It has 7,641 islands that are categorized in three: Luzon- becoming one of the largest islands in Philippines, Visayas and Mindanao. It is also recognized as the 13th-most populated country in the world.   

            In order to make this country a resilient, we must listen to the grievances of the Filipinos and give them the appropriate solution. Do not ignore each other’s voices. A good leader is also a good follower. Eliminate corruption, remove corrupt officials. Justice for everyone no matter what state in life. We have a hard time getting up because the government is focused on what they think will make the Philippines better but the poor will not get out of poverty. Face the problem. A resilient country needs straight and competent officers. Do not take money from the country. Do not be blind to what is happening as if nothing is wrong. Every voice is important, denounce corruption and wise governance for a resilient country.

            If we stop the different forms of corruption that are happening in the Philippines, our country will become better and the people have a freedom to choose who they think the better in terms of leadership. The children can have proper education and their needs can sustain if the corruption will stop. Also our country will become peaceful because we are in unity with each other and the budget that is for us will give it to us completely. Our country will improve if the higher position will see what’s happening in other side. 

Photo references:

Christensen, C + Ojomo, E + Dillon, K (2019). Can corruption ever be eliminated in the world? Boss Tweed and Napster show a counterintuitive path forward. Retrieved from https://ideas.ted.com/can-corruption-ever-be-eliminated-in-the-world-boss-tweed-and-napster-show-a-counterintuitive-path-forward/

Stop Corruption Poster Sticker. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.in/Corruption-Sticker-Inspirational-Motivational-Ace/dp/B07RJSBKWB

Students in pandemic

            Education had been the most powerful weapon that can lead to success. It is not only about gaining knowledge, it means learning the ways to stand alone with your own and how to understand those tackled challenges. However, implementing a new kind of learning brought by COVID-19 makes the suffering of students as well as their teachers and parents more complicated.

            When COVID-19 started, classes are suspended. We have been in our home for almost 8 months. Everything has changed, including education. Education in this season is definitely hard thinking that how students can survive to this school year. How would the students even teachers and parents handle this new normal of the education system? How about those who have not stable internet and gadgets to use for learning? These are all brought by the pandemic we’ve facing. Students are staying up until late night just to finish the tasks they have to do. There are also news that students are committing suicide because their tasks that submitted late, did not accept by their teacher. I swear, this kind of learning system isn’t good for someone’s mental health. Students are no longer learning because they are dumped by many tasks. In short, nonstop giving of tasks to do may have cause a havoc in some students system that gives them the opportunity of not having time for themselves. 

For students to have a good quality education during these difficult times, government provided the needs of teachers like printers and bond papers for them and they should also provide the students internet and gadgets for them to study well. Second, they should set the “Ligtas Balik Eskwela” program to ensure the safety of students and it is better to have a face-to-face class rather than online and modular learning which is not for everyone. Lastly, education must be planned. It is better to skip 1 year of classes but students are safe and have quality education.

            If the government will do these actions then it will be better. The students will have a healthy mind and healthy body. But it is better to shut down COVID-19 so that there will be no problem. 

Photo references:

https://philippines.licas.news/2020/08/17/philippine-private-schools-to-start-online-classes-this-month/ 

DepEd prepares printed, online Self-Learning Modules SLM for SY 2020-2021, Retrieved from 

https://www.thesummitexpress.com/2020/07/deped-prepares-printed-online-self-learning-modules-sy-2020-2021.html

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2457699847855753&set=pcb.2457700021189069