WIKA NATIN ANG DAANG MATUWID

            Since the colonization of Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese, and with the influences of various nearby and distant countries, it is inevitable for us, Filipinos, to learn and understand foreign languages. In our own Filipino language, we can see that there are some words which are just borrowed form the language of foreigners such as Spanish and English. There are also instances when our citizens tend to use, speak, and write in foreign languages more often and are gradually forgetting the value of our own language. To address this problem, Buwan ng Wika is annually conducted with Filipino as the national language.

            Tuwing Agosto, naghahanda ang buong bansa sa pagdiriwang sa Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa. Ang tema para sa taong ito ay “Wika Natin ang Daang Matuwid.” Ito ay nahati sa lima pang tema: 1) Ang Wika Natin ay Wika ng Katarungan at Kapayapaan; 2) Ang Wika Natin ay Laban sa Katiwalian; 3) Ang Wika Natin ay Sandata Laban sa Kahirapan; 4) Ang Wika Natin ay Wika ng Mabilisan, Inklusibo, at Sustenidong Kaunlaran; 5) Ang wika Natin ay Wika sa Pangangalaga ng Kapaligiran. Ang pangunahing layunin ng pagdiriwang na ito ay upang tuluyang tangkilikin ang wikang Filipino sa pamamagitan ng pakikilahok sa iba’t ibang aktibidades na may kaugnayan sa Buwan ng Wika.

            Wika natin ang daang matuwid― ito ang magsisilbing gabay natin sa pagkakaisa at pagpapaunlad sa ating bansa. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng diyalektong bumubuo sa kultura natin, kailangan nating matutunang mahalin ang wikang Filipino upang tayo’y magkaintindihan.  Dito rin masasalamin ang pagiging tapat natin sa bansa at sa kapwa. Ang pagsasalita ng wikang Filipino ay hindi dapat ikahiya, bagkus, dapat ipagmalaki dahil sa natatangi nitong kagandahan at kayamanan. Ang ating sariling wika ang siyang tulay sa mabisang pakikipagkapwa at pagtutulungan.

            However, this celebration is not exactly a way of discouraging Filipinos to use the English language or other foreign languages. It is just a reminder that we should value our own language, treasure it, and be proud of it no matter what. 

FIRST OF THE LAST

New school means new chapter (probably the last) of high school life filled with new lessons, experiences, challenges, and problems. Being able to set our feet on the first staircase of senior year is such a great achievement. It’s now up to us whether to pursue climbing to reach the summit of success, hopefully graduate, and soon, start to fill the pages of our college life. Or back-out.
As a fourth year student, I realized that this I the first set of our last chances to prove to the whole school that we are worth remembering, and that we deserve to have become a part of the institution. It’s our duty to show willingness to study and be the models of the undergraduates.
Consequently, my knowledge has expanded because of the numerous things I learned this first quarter, with the more or less ten-hour everyday stay in Ilocos Sur National High School. From the daily announcements during flag ceremony to the confinement inside the classroom (which seems to take ages for the discussions to end), it cannot be denied that we gain at least one thing everyday.
Teachers are never tired of relating their wisdom to us, the students. In our major subjects (English, Science, and Math), topics are getting more and more complicated. The lessons are more advanced, for example in Physics, I discovered several concepts, simple and complex formulas I haven’t even mastered using until now. Same with our Pre-Calculus. Well, English is somewhat easier to understand. We had discussed stories, improved our vocabulary, and stated the moral. I also got myself familiarized with the word “economics,” its history, and how it affects the whole society. I love our past lesson in Health, which is Mental Health and Defense Mechanism. In Values Education, I learned more about of myself as a human being; in Filipino, we discussed El Filibusterismo, short stories, and poems. The most high-tech subject we probably have is ICT. We studied Internet timeline, created blogs, and focused on familiarizing ourselves with cyberworld.
However, life won’t be complete without obstacles and challenges. We are given tons of school requirements but usually, we only have a short period of time to finish all those mind blowing things. Time management is the first problem. My strategy is to prioritize the things which are the most difficult to do. I would also stay up to 1 o’ clock in the morning just to meet the deadline. Or I would work during recess time or lunch break to rush my outputs.
One of our most difficult projects is the conduct of the Investigatory Project, together with its write-up. Originally, we are planning to try to perform three projects but the other two cannot be done due to lack of time and there are no available materials. When we are almost halfway to relaxation, we had some problem in the testing part. I almost lost hope and wanted to just scream. But I got over it. Finally, we settled into another project title and are really doing our best to finish it in time for the submission.
I swear I’m going to study well next grading. I am not contented with the results of the Periodic Test. I still feel anxious because of my low low low scores. It’s like I only took this grading for granted and I blame myself for not being that serious. Okay, next time I’ll do better. I promise that to myself, so good luck to me. 

THE RACE TO LIME LIGHT

Change. Progress. Prosperity.

            These are the things we’re dying to achieve for our country. We’re tired of being left out when everybody outside our nation are rushing into the lime light. Another year had passed. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III had once again delivered his State of the Nation Address notifying us about the current economic status of the Philippines and other issues, mostly positive. So, how’s our country?

            Well, PNOY did his best in governing the nation for almost four years. Projects such as pabahay programs, construction of roads and bridges, and community services were successfully implemented; these greatly helped our fellow Filipinos who are less fortunate in life. Bills were signed to laws to maintain and continuously improve the country’s peace and order.

            However, most people are still complaining and complaining without realizing the efforts of our president. They are dark-side seekers― they are only looking on the negative images of the community. They don’t consider the probably a big change that happened if we’re going to compare the status of the country several years ago.

            Think about this: it’s not that easy to lead more or less 100 million citizens especially when more than half of the population aren’t cooperating, not comprehending. There are yet tons of problems and issues the government need to address immediately and if people are doing nothing and, rather, they tend to become a part of the outgrowing obstacles, what will become of our country?

            If only all of us will all of us are taking actions, if all of us are going to bide to the laws and obligations, progress will just be a step away. Like what PNOY said, his SONA is also our SONA. What we do can affect positively or negatively his plans for us.

            Everyone should take part. Imagine, if all people will lend a hand, desired progress will be far more significant than this year. Bear in mind that unity is the key to success.