Essence of Family Day in My Teenage Life

     As children, our parents worked so hard in molding us to become the person who we are today. That means parents have all our attention and spent their time with us. Now, as children grow up to become teenagers, it is expected they will not receive the same attention they had since they were babies. This is understandable because our parents want us to prepare for the real life - to be independent, social and a good decision-maker. But, it seems like other parents had done it too much to the point they can't spend time with their children because of certain situations. Now, this is the purpose of family day: to help connect the bond again between a family through spending time.

    In my family, I admit that we have a good communication and relationship with each other, and this is enhanced during when we go out together. Mostly, we spend our time together during Sundays when we go to church, so usually, family days are not a rare occurrence on my part. On the other hand, I think this is a beneficial opportunity for some of my classmates because they could also get to spend their time with their families that haven't really spent theirs with them.

Together with my family

     As teenagers, we experience a phase of confusion within everything, and establishing good communication within a family is necessary as they can also help you with it. Sometimes, your family might not understand your view on life, but once you feel integrated with them, you know that they'll always be there for you. And sometimes, moral support is more than enough. With this, our family day represents a step in achieving a strong bond within. Our teenage life is where we could get easily influenced with other people and friends, and it is a risky situation when the people that surround you do inappropriate things and actions, and it gets harder especially when your family does not care about your situation at all. With a family's support, they can give you a more accurate and appropriate advice especially with choosing your friends and deciding which is right and wrong, because everything that you do could either beget something memorable or something regrettable.

Us performing during our dance palabas

    Now on to our highlights:

    This family day, our batch (Grade 10) saw triumph in the dance palabas. This year, we had a tribal theme, and I had fun during the practices. We all also felt accomplished because we completed the winning streak from Grade 7 up until now. I was happy seeing the result and it was all worth it because this activity was really the most expected during the family day. Although in the midst of preparation, some of us had doubts about us giving out a good performance, but it turned out positive and we are all happy for it.

     During the evening, we had our long-awaited dinner. The funny thing is that some of us had to eat on the staircases of the lobby because there weren't enough tables. Although I wasn't complaining, the tasty food still compensated for it.

     Another highlight was the raffle draw. I was just bonding together with my family and friends during that time while waiting for our names to be called. I did receive my prize and it was a sack of rice - which I am incredibly grateful for because of how expensive rice is getting these days. Still hoped to get that desk fan too, though.

The Grade-10 batch together with our teachers and parents posing for a photo
during the awarding ceremony.

     Although compared to last year, this year's family day was lacking something, but I wouldn't really make it much of a big deal because all that matters is how I had spent my time with my family. The most memorable part for me was our dance palabas performance and how we won for four years straight. As a Grade 10 student and soon be going to senior high, I am going to miss this part of my life because these were my highlights every school year and it may feel new to me that I can't get to experience this anymore. But, no more family day doesn't mean our family's relationship will deteriorate, we are still working hard to connect with each other in order to strengthen our bond with each other.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR: CAT Camping 2020

     Bilang isang estudyante ng Grade 10, nadadaraanan ko ang karanasan sa pagiging parte ng C.A.T. (o Citizen Advancement Training). Lalo na ako'y nagiging isang platoon leader, nadaraanan ko ang pagsubok sa paghawak ng aking grupo. At kung ang usapan ay C.A.T., ang kaganapan ng CAT Camping ay palaging madadala sa pag-uusap. Sa paglapit ng CAT Camping, marami sa aking kaklase ay nasasabik nito. Nagplano rin kami sa aking grupo (Alpha) sa kung sino ang magdala sa mga bagay na kinakailangan sa camping. Puno rin sila ng kasiyahan nito pati na rin ako, ngunit kinakabahan ko rin kung ano man ang mangyayari o kung may makalimutan bang dadalhin. Gayon pa man, inaasahan ko na ma-eenjoy ko ang camping kasama sa aking grupo.

Ako at ang aking grupo. 

     Sa araw ng camping, noong ika-11 ng Enero 2020, nagmadali ako sa pagpunta sa eskwelahan, ngunit suwerte ako dahil hindi pa nagsimula ang camping. Inihanda at inaayos namin ang aming mga gamit habang naghihintay sa iba pa naming kagrupo. Ngunit, may isa kaming miyembro na matagal sa pagdating, at ang iba sa amin ay unti-unting nawawala ang pasensya sa kanya. Sa pagkakaalam namin sa kanya, alam naman namin na hindi na siya pupunta sa eskwelahan, kaya iniwan nalang namin siya. Dahil dito, nasimulan namin ang camp na puno ng mga alala at stress.

     Sa umaga, kinailangan naming makinig sa pagsasalita ng aming punong-guro na si Ms. A at ipinaliwanag niya kung ano ang matutunan natin sa mga kaganapan katulad ng CAT camping. Ipinahayag niya ang kahulugan ng CAMP.
   C para sa pagkaroon ng bukas na komunikasyon or communicating openly. Sa isang grupo, kailangang magkaroon ng komunikasyon sa isa't isa na taos-puso at sa pagiging open-minded upang maiwasan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan na nagreresulta sa away.
     A para sa pagkamit ng mga layunin niyo o achieving your goals. Upang makagawa ng mga bagay nang matagumpay, dapat may itakda tayong layuning makatotohanan upang may paningin din tayo sa kung ano man ang ating gagawin. Ito ay ang pundasyon ng pagiging matagumpay at kung atin itong pinagsikapan kahit na nabigo tayo sa una ay makamit pa rin natin ito.

Ang aking mukhang puno ng pag-alala noong nagluto kami para sa tanghalian

   M para mga alaala na hindi natin malilimutan o moments to cherish. Ang mga pangyayari sa camping ay nangingiba sa ating ordinaryong buhay, kaya meron talagang mga first time sa lahat. Lalo na kapag kasama tayo sa ating mga kagrupo at kaibigan, wala itong duda na magkakaroon ng alaalang 'di malilimutan.
     P para sa pagkikinig ng mabuti o paying attention. Ito ay ang kasyosyo ng komunikasyon dahil kapag walang makikinig sa'yo, paano namang maitatag ang mabuting komunikasyon? Kapag makikinig ka, kailangan mong palaging maging mapagmasid sa sinasabi ng mga tao upang may maintindihan ka. Ang pakikinig ng mabuti ay hindi lang makikinig at mag-iintindi, ngunit kailangan din mong ipahayag ang mga ideya mo sa kanyang sinasabi upang mas mapahusay ang gagawin at pati na rin ang relasyon ng grupo.

     Pagkatapos, nagkaroon kami ng isang laro na kung saan kailangan naming hahanapin ang mga bandana at aming bandila. Para sa akin, ang larong ito'y di malilimutan ko dahil sa paghihirap naming naranasan sa paghanap nito. Mas masama, umulan habang naglalaro kami at basang-basa kami nito na para sa akin ay nagdagdag sa kahirapan ng laro. Lahat na nasa larong ito ay hindi malilimutan ko. Sa umaga pa lang ay pagod na pagod na kami, ngunit hindi kami nagsisisi. Pagkatapos ng laro ay nakikinig kami sa panayam ng aming guidance counselor na si G. Alfred na nagbigay rin ng isang gawain na kung saan sinubukan ang aming survival skills kapag nasa karagatan.

     Sa tanghalian, kailangan kaming magluto upang may pagkain kami, ngunit posporo o lighter lamang ang dapat gamitin para sa apoy. Mula pa sa araw bago mag-camping, ito ay ang pinag-alalahanin ko dahil wala akong alam nito. Sa amoy ng usok at sa hangin na nag-iistorbo, nagkaroon kami ng paghihirap nito at mas lumaki ang pag-alala ko. Ngunit, sa tulong ng ibang kasama namin, natagumpay kami kahit man lang at may nakain kami sa tanghalian. Ngunit naman, may twist ang aming tanghalian na kung saan kailangan naming palitan ang aming pagkain sa ibang platun at para kaming niloko dahil hindi kami nakakain sa aming ulam.

     Sa paglipas ng hapon, naglaro kami ng mga mini-games sa isang malaking laro na parang 'The Amazing Race' ang dating, at nakita ko talaga kung gaanong ipinaghanda ang kaganapang ito sa mga organizers at facilitators, at ginawa nila ang kanilang lahat upang magiging matagumpay ito. Hindi ko nalilimutan ang laro na kung saan kukuha kami ng mga karot na inilagay sa isang plangganang puno ng tubig gamit sa aming bibig. Nakakadiri talaga ito dahil hindi ibinago ang tubig na napuno na ng laway at uhog. Isa itong mga pangyayaring gusto kong makalimutan ngunit hindi dahil ito'y nakasusuklam.

     Nang dumating na ang gabi, nagluto kami muli para sa aming hapunan. Subalit hindi naman ako gaanong nag-alala noong tanghali dahil alam na namin kung papaano namin itong gagawin upang hindi ito magiging kabiguan. Nagluto ang aming kamiyembro na si Angel ng pancit bihon at piniritong baboy. Sa oras ng camping, bongga na bongga ito sapagkat binigyan kami ng limitadong oras upang lutuin ito at siyempre, nagkaroon kami ng masarap na hapunan (akala namin na palitan muli ang aming pagkain, ngunit sa kabutihang-palad, hindi nagiging iyan ang challenge). Naliligo kami pagkatapos sa hapunan at nagsimula ang campfire pagkatapos. Dito ay nagkaroon kaming lahat ng personal na repleksyon at binigyan din kami ng pagkakataon upang makipag-usap sa mga taong may kinaroroonan ng di-pagkauunawan.

Ang ALPHA sa pagtanggap nila ng kani-kanilang pin sa
awarding

     Sa sigaw ng platoon humanay sa aming commander, gumising ang lahat upang makakasali sa formation. Pagkatapos iyan ay nagluto kami para sa almusal, ngunit ang challenge para sa aming lahat ay magiging tahimik sa paghanda, pagluto at sa pagkain. Nararamdaman ko ang kapayapaan ng isang umagang Linggo dahil walang ingay. Ngunit, bumalik naman ang normal sa paglaro namin ng isang huling laro at pagkatapos, naglinis ang lahat sa buong eskwelahan upang mapapanatilihin ang pagkalinis ng lugar sa paggamit namin.

     Nagkaroon kaming lahat ng awarding ceremony upang tapusin ang CAT Camping. Nakontento ako sa aming resulta dahil nasa gitna kami sa final ranking (3rd). Pero, alam naman naming lahat na hindi ito gaanong kaimportante basta't na-eenjoy natin ang camping.

     Pagkatapos ng kung anong dalawang araw ay tilang napakahaba, may natutunan ako ng marami. Natutunan ko na dapat talaga halagahan ang komunikasyon sa grupo at palaging magiging 'open-minded' at tunay sa sinasabi dahil ang isang relasyon na itinatag ng mga kasinungalingan ay madali lang mawawasak. Bukod sa karamihan ng aral na natutunan ko, nalaman ko rin na ang paggugol ng oras sa grupo ay importante rin dahil ito'y kumukonekta at nagpapatibay sa pagkakaisa. Sa isang grupo, importante talaga ang pagiging komportable sa isa't isa, at para sa akin, nakamit ito sa pamamagitan ng CAT Camping.

      Ang natutunan ko rin ay dapat akong masasanay sa hindi komportableng sitwasyon at minsan, wala tayong magagawa kundi gagawin kung ano man ang natira. Hindi mo palaging maasahan ang tamis ng pagiging komportable, at upang mabuhay ka sa mundong ito ay dapat mong harapin ang 'di komportable.

     Dahil sa camping, napagtanto ko kung gaano ko kamahal at pinapahalagahan ang aking platoon: Alpha. Sapagkat sa lahat na dinaraanan namin sa aming mga duty, sapagkat sa mga tagumpay at kabiguan, ito ay tiyak na hindi kong pinagsisihan ang bawat sandali. Napagtanto ko rin sa mga bittersweet na damdamin dahil sa madaling panahon, maghiwalay na kami sa aming mga daanan. Sa lahat ng mga ito ay pinakaimportante talaga na ang camping ay isa sa mga sandali na dapat nating mahalin dahil bilang Grade 10, ito ay ang ating pinakauna at pinakahuling CAT Camping, at pati na rin sa paggamit ang mga natutunan natin sa ating lipunan.

     

Sexually Transmitted Infections: The Contemporary Era

The current era is facing a lot of issues right now.  And one of these issues is related towards unsafe sex.  Teenagers and curiosity are 2 dangerous things to be fused with. Sometimes teenagers nowadays are careless of their actions and tend to do things that please them disregarding its side effects. This does not only mean about unsafe sex but it could potentially branch out to different sexual organ diseases, teenage pregnancy and the deadliest among all which is sexually transmitted diseases.

Cases of the HIV/AIDS disease has never stopped since its rise in the 1980s. This disease is not common to the world especially our country, the Philippines. The common risks of getting this disease are usually having sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral or anal) with multiple partners or with someone who is HIV positive; sex among a man and another man (MSM); using illegal injected drugs and; shared needles or syringes.  In the initial phase, symptoms begin to occur after the first two months of exposure and they will experience flu-like symptoms; fever; headache; tiredness; and enlarged lymph nodes. It is also possible that early symptoms will not occur. Early AIDS symptoms include fatigue; lack of energy; weight loss; frequent low-grade fevers; and night sweats. Later AIDS symptoms (from HIV to full AIDS) include symptoms from infections; coughing; shortness of breath; seizures to very critical conditions such as coma; kaposi’s sarcoma; cervical cancer; and lymphaphoma.

                In the Philippine situation, aside from the common occurrence of contracting the virus through the risks, there are also several factors that affects the reason why HIV/AIDS in the country is alarmingly growing. Lack of public education and awareness about HIV is a very simple one, yet hard to solve. Because of Filipinos’ mindset about contracting the disease, they think it’s shameful to reveal getting the disease, so that’s why there is a lot of unrecorded cases here. Not only they think it’s shameful, it means that instead of helping and supporting those who were infected, it is possible they will get discriminated and shamed upon. And also since unprotected sex is common to people who are involved in MSM, it still remains a great risk factor because the Philippines is very conservative in terms of sexual orientation and people are not open about talking sex especially when it’s about MSM.

The solution towards facing these problems tend to be easier when thought about but harder to do in action for others might take it for granted.  By giving people knowledge on what might be the possible outcome of certain action will possibly result them to be more careful of their doings.  Some of these interventions may be counseling, to give student hands-on focus and handing them tools that are aiming towards better knowledge. In the country, sex education is one way of spreading awareness, although the Church does not approve of it, but implementing sex education in an appropriate manner and age group, there’s completely nothing wrong about it. We also need to change our perception on how we deal with diseases and sexual intercourse with the same sex. We need not to shame and condemn them for getting that disease and we must comfort and support them so that they will not feel shameful of themselves.