The Warmth of Christmas

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotograzio/49401160413

 

We celebrate Christmas at 25th of December to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. But due to the pandemic, it has become a little bit hard to celebrate Christmas due to the protocols we have to follow. But Vigan is very serious when it comes to these kinds of things. People decorates their house as soon as September comes, because September is the start of the so called 'ber months', where you start to feel the Christmassy feeling.

Of course Christmas isn't complete without the 'simbang gabi', where people attend masses at either 7 pm at night or 4 am in the morning. And also the Christmas caroling, where children go house-to-house to sing Christmas songs in exchange for some coins. The children have make-shift instruments, like a tambourine made from the bottle caps and such. And when it's near Christmas, you can hear Christmas songs wherever you go. May it be the grocery store, the department store and even in your neighborhood. People love music and Christmas.

Christmas really do bring people together. And the memories created in this occasion will be treasured forever. The memory of caroling, simbang gabi, the smiles of people and the love you receive from your friend and family. Viva Vigan and Merry Christmas!

                        https://www.bomboradyo.com/vigan/christmas-tree-idiay-sangwanan-ti-kapitolyo-nalukatanen/

Second Quarter of My ICT Lessons!

 

 

                                    https://www.ictcertified.com/ict-fundamentals/ict-fundamentals.php

 

Second Quarter is about to end now. That means we are now heading to start the third quarter, but before that, I wanted to share the lessons I learned, challenges I faced and discoveries I have gained. This quarter I learned more about HTML. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language, and we learned how to code and create a website. I learned about the different tags used in creating an HTML and the different attributes, I also learned how to create hyperlink. We are also still doing blogs, and I like it because it can help me in many ways. I had fun learning and discovering new things that expand my knowledge!

But it is not, however, always happy; there are bad days and problems too. I frequently run out of time and sometimes I am concerned about my time management skills. I'm also concerned about the blogs I can't start because starting one can be difficult, or you could say I'm suffering from writer's block. And sometimes I also laze around, and that gives me a feeling of uncertainty. I sometimes also cannot understand instructions, but I think that is because I wasn't that focused.

And in order to improve, I must confront these difficulties. If I'm worried about my time management, I'll occasionally avoid having to cram and stress about it, but I also keep track of my schedule. I also make sure that only few works aren't finished before I relaxed a little, so I won't have a lot to do.

Moving on, I will try to improve myself more and will also do my best like this quarter. And I hope to be more productive so that I won't cram much. And the lessons that I learned this quarter are very fun and exciting!

 

 

 

 

Viva Vigan!!

 

     https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/10/29/1385516/vigan-beckons

 Part and parcel of the Filipino culture are the festivals being celebrated in every town. One of the most popular ones is the Vigan Town Fiesta observed during January 25, in honor of St. Paul the Apostle. The Vigan Town Fiesta is commemorated in the northernmost part of the Philippines in Ilocos region. The festival gathers a lot of tourists who come to see the presentations they do for the show. Vigan Town Fiesta is composed of arts and crafts exhibit, carnivals, street dancing performances, and other vivacious performances that celebrate the spirit of Vigan’s cityhood. But due to the pandemic, festivals haven't been celebrated very well.

Fiesta is a time for Filipinos to celebrate. Festivals, on the other hand, have become less enjoyable and amusing during this pandemic. Furthermore, as a result of the pandemic, this year's festival was not as joyous and blissful as previous years. However, celebrating Vigan City's fiesta in the midst of the CoVid-19 pandemic only served to highlight how important and unique culture is to us, Filipinos. Despite the fact that the Festival's main events, such as parades and street dancing, as well as carnivals and food fairs, were reduced in size. And the majority of Biguenos celebrated with their families at home. This festival is allegedly one of the most important events hosted by the City of Vigan, and it is understandable that the authorities and organizers were simply concerned about the safety of the participants.

 Festivals are important to us, but we also need to understand that there is a pandemic going on. In order for us to feel the excitement and fun again, we have to defeat the virus first. In this kind of time, do not be sad, instead think positively and enjoy life. You can still celebrate festivals at home with your family, so be happy and think of ways to enjoy such celebrations.

 

Sources used:

https://primer.com.ph/tips-guides/2016/01/18/vigan-town-fiesta/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of the End

                                               https://www.grammarly.com/blog/happy-new-year-2/

The New Year is celebrated around the world with great passion and enthusiasm. The end of the 31st December of the year at 12 o'clock midnight and the start of the next year's 1st January signify the start of a New Year. We often say the phrase "New Year, New Me!" for we consider the start of another year, a new chance to improve ourselves by having New Year’s resolutions. The celebration of the New Year reflects towards a new beginning and it teaches to move forward. Whatever we did in the old year, learned successful or unsuccessful, learning from last year to proceed with a new hope of coming year is the significance of this celebration. This way New Year’s celebration awakens new hope inside us.

 For me, 2021 has been a roller coaster of a year. Looking back, a lot of things happened this year— and it is a combination of good and bad. I got to explore new things, create fun and exciting memories and I also faced some of my fears. I learned a lot of lessons too. I learned to value myself more, and I learned that I am not alone. For this year, I just wished myself to be genuinely happy and healthy. I hope this will be a great year for me and my family.

 New Year is an important day for everyone. It brings new hope and happiness for us. It is an opportunity for us to learn from our previous mistakes and more forward in our life with an aim to not repeat those mistakes again. We should celebrate new year with full enthusiasm like any other festival. 

Sources used:

https://www.careerindia.com/amphtml/features/happy-new-year-essay-on-new-year-for-             students-031121.html

https://mbthought.com/essay/happy-new-year-celebration-essay/?amp=1

Pandemic Christmas

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/christmas-tree-with-baubles-and-blurred-shiny-lights-gm1179032100-329777384

    

With a focus on the Covid virus, we are preoccupied with guidelines on how to celebrate Christmas this year– with only members of the family who are living in the same household, to continue wearing masks, observe social distancing, or to wash hands frequently. We are being discouraged from visiting one another for our mutual protection and safety. The usual Christmas glee and merriment that we have been accustomed to is not possible this year. Even though this holiday season will be different – and difficult for many – we can take comfort in the fact that the sacrifices we make now will protect us, our loved ones, and our communities. The goal is to make sure we are all here to celebrate in-person next year. It is very important that we keep up-to-date on the latest public health orders and recommendations – and follow them. We will have to be creative and think of ways to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season despite not being able to gather in-person.

But a global pandemic doesn't have to ruin the festive season completely. We can still celebrate Christmas this year in our own little ways. First, prioritize the traditions that matter most to you. "Think about what is the essence of the holiday for you, so you can try to preserve it," says happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, author of Happier at Home. "Even if you're not doing everything you used to, you can set up the holiday decorations, if that's really important, or make the special foods you love." Remember, it doesn't need to be extravagant or pricey. Yes, Christmas is the season of giving, but remember, presence over presents. You don't need to buy material things to make your Christmas celebration complete. I hope we know that more than material things, we can have fun when with our loved ones. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it's to cherish the little things in life. Be it a glass of wine by the Christmas tree or unwrapping a gift from someone you love. With an uncertain future looming ahead, it's more important now than ever to be grateful for our day to day lives. This season should be a great time to be with each other's presence. Lastly, we should always remember the true meaning of Christmas. This pandemic should not be a hindrance for us to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. This Christmas, remember the true meaning of the holiday and celebrate God's incredible act of love.

 Let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas just because of a pandemic. But always be careful so you won't catch the virus. Let us be thankful everyday and thank God for another year of spending our Christmas together with our love ones. Always remember, that the essence of celebrating Christmas season is not to have a house full of Christmas lights, having a tall and beautiful Christmas tree full of gifts underneath it and giving expensive gifts. Christmas basically means sharing what you have, not just the material things but also those that can only be felt like a warm, tight hug, a simple thank you, showing our appreciation to our loved ones and forgiveness among others.

 

Sources used:

https://su.edu.ph/reflections/celebrate-christmas-amidst-the-covid-19-pandemic/

https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/celebrating-christmas-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

https://radyonatin.com/story.php?storyid=41794

 

Rights Remain With or Without Pandemic

 

https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/same-human-rights-children 

 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all of us are to stay at home. It has a big impact on our work, and this might affect the achievement of our shared vision of a world without violence against children. As the virus continues to spread across the world, we are all facing multiple new stresses, including physical and psychological health risks, school and business closures, family confinement, isolation and economic vulnerability. Through all of that, children are particularly vulnerable.

As the COVID‑19 crisis spreads around the world, it is transforming children’s day-to-day lives. The pandemic and the associated policy responses of confinement and social distancing touch on almost every part of children’s worlds. COVID‑19 directly affects formal care arrangements, education and leisure services offered by early childhood services, schools and other organizations are interrupted. Recognising that the impacts of these measures will hit some groups of children harder than others is critical. These groups of vulnerable children include children living in poverty, children with disabilities, children in out-home care, children in detention, and also refugee children and children at risk of child labour. Furthermore, the pandemic has the potential to create new vulnerable children and countries must prepare to respond to growing needs for support. To a varying extent, these issues intersect with income poverty and poor housing, with the common denominator being that children in poorer families are more exposed.

Let us not also forget that the children’s' are also having a hard time. They also need to be taken care of in situations like this, they shouldn't feel like a burden and feel like their rights are snatched from theirs. Be mindful of the words you say and the things you do. Treasure the children while also respecting their rights.

 

 

Resources used:

 

https://www.end-violence.org/protecting-children-during-covid-19-outbreakhttps://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/combatting-covid-19-s-effect-on-children-2e1f3b2f/

PROTECTING CHILDREN DURING COVID-19 | End Violence

end-violence.org

 

Saving the Earth is Saving Ourselves

https://www.123rf.com/photo_121787494_stock-vector-people-care-about-planet-clean-and-water-it-the-concept-of-the-earth-day-flat-vector-illustration.html

Environment plays an important role in healthy living and the existence of life on planet earth. Earth is a home for different living species and we all are dependent on the environment for food, air, water, and other needs. Therefore, it is important for every individual to save and protect our environment. But as we face the future, our environment is slowly getting worse. Polluted air and water, carbon emission and deforestation. These are already hard but these are only few of the things we have experienced. We should be more responsible of taking care of our environment and consider our everyday actions.

As teenagers, sometimes we feel helpless and powerless, unable to take action, or do things that really matter to us, since governments and large corporations are the ones taking vital decisions. While major changes are only possible if countries and corporations alter their policies and actions, we as individuals also have the potential to make a difference, whether through small actions, or larger initiatives. And here are some things we can do to engage the community to be more environmentally conscious:

Become more aware of resources and start by living with a greater awareness of the resources that you use in your daily life. Pay attention to how you choose to heat, to travel, to use water, and use products that were made by manufacturing practices. With your new awareness of how natural resources are used in your life, start to practice conservation. It can be as simple as turning off the lights as you leave a room and as complex as making different choices when it comes to building your home. You can also Plant small trees around your home and don’t cut trees unless it’s necessary; work with local environmental groups to plant more trees and educate others about the positive aspects of it. And lastly do not forget about the 3R's, which are reducing, reusing and recycling. Reduce simply means reducing what is produced and what is consumed. Reuse items for a different purpose instead of sending them to landfills. To recycle something means that it will be transformed again into a raw material that can be shaped into a new item.

It may seem like it's impossible to do these things, but as long as you trust and you believe in yourself you can do it! Everything starts within themselves, so do not be afraid to share your knowledge to other people so that they can reflect on what they are doing and help take care of our environment. A simple thing that we do can affect our environment, may it be just simply throwing your garbage in the road or in the water. It is not too late to help in making our environment better.

 

 References used:

https://www.mvorganizing.org/how-can-we-keep-our-surroundings-clean-essay/

https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/7-ways-which-youth-can-protect-environment

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/15-easy-ways-to-become-environmentally-friendly.php