How to be a Sayanista (Blog 4.2)

Passing the first screening for the entrance exam in CNSHS feels so great. Passing the second screening is so wonderful but passing all the screening is too good to be true. 

                I remember when our service was about to enter the school, I saw everyone especially the higher years are getting excited to start the classes. I can see everyone that it’s so great to study in this school knowing that it is one of the most well-known prestige schools in the country. But unknowingly, life in here isn’t just as easy as I thought.

                There are a lot of rules and regulations that every student must follow. And of course if one of them isn’t performed well, be sure you can face the consequences. Here are the following violations and disciplinary actions:

1^st Level (LATE COMERS)- Students studying in this school must arrive early in the morning to do their duty which is cleaning the assigned area every morning. If they failed to arrive within the time, they will be listed as late comers.

2^nd Level (NOT SO GOOD MONDAY MORNING)- Students must attend the flag raising ceremony every Monday morning. If they failed to attend the flag raising ceremony, they will have their own. They will not yet attend their class until they have finished the task. Most of the late comers can experience this.

3^rd Level (NO TO SLEEVES’ UP)- Students must always wear their complete uniform. If not, they can be also listed as the violators. Another record? Oh no!

4^th Level (PROPER HAIRCUT PLEASE!)- This is actually for the boys only. All of them must have clean haircut. It is usually called “Gupit Sayanista”. If some failed to do this, they sometimes take squats depending on the number commanded by the CAT officers. But sometimes they’ll be listed as violators. 1^st...2^nd...3^rd record?

5^th Level (WATCH OUT, YES-O OFFICERS ARE WATCHING YOU)- Every student is commanded to throw their garbages in their own. If someone throws a trash anywhere in the school, he must pick up all the litters around the school.

6^th Level (RECESS NO MORE)- In Canteen, there are also rules there like falling in line and be honest in paying. But some of the students are not following the rule of falling in line. Some are just going in front of another people who innocently fall in line. As a punishment, they cannot experience recess anymore. Instead, it is their time to serve the canteen and help the canteeners in preparing the foods.

7^th Level (ENGLISH ONLY PLEASE)- Students must speak in English. Sayanistas are known in speaking English outside or inside the school. If someone isn’t following, his grades will get low because of the deductions.

8^th Level (DON'T BE A BULLY)- Each and every one of us has the dream of being free but any student who can experience bullying, he may report it to the office. Bullying is a sin. It isn’t a good thing to do. If someone dares to bully a student, he must proceed to the office. So as a punishment, he will be suspended for weeks.

9^th Level (BYE CAVSCI)- This is the most deadly sin that any student can make. As a punishment for stealing, copying or cheating, he or she must leave the school. He is now kicked out. Even though his grades are high, attitude is still the basis of learning.

                SO IF YOU REALLY WANT IN CNSHS, BE GOOD ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. BECAUSE ONCE YOU STEP IN, THERE IS NO TURNING BACK!

The Sound of Silence (Blog 4.1)

"To be wise, use the three languages: To think well. To feel well. And to do well."

            Honestly speaking, I was quite confused before about my life. I’m always asking myself so many “what if’s” and a lot of “what should”.  I really don’t know what my life supposed to be. All I know is I am here in the world breathing but not living. It’s like I’m just existing whom everyone and no one knows me.

            Deep in my heart, I want to see the things I can and cannot do. That’s why I really tried my best to join activities in school despite knowing nothing about being great in that particular thing. But the thing is, I want it. And I believe that having a desire to do a thing is better than just doing it. So I really tried. But when the time came when I feel like that is not my thing, I can’t quit because something keeps me holding on. Maybe it is a way on how can I understand my capabilities in life. Maybe I just don’t know myself until someone helped me to realize who I really am.

            And a time came when He answered all of my questions in life. He made me realized about me. He gave me a reason to keep on holding. He made me feel so alive again.

            On the moment when Pope Francis looked out the window of the airplane he was riding on, I was teary-eyed. I really felt so happy that even though my family wasn’t able to go to Manila, I knew that Pope Francis arrived in our country with his oh-so-big smile on his face.

            My family and I watched the television all day long from that day until the last day he visited Philippines. We watched all of the mass that he had done. And from those, I learned a lot. YES, A LOT.

            All the doubts in me lessen. Starting from the way I carry myself from the real deep emotions inside me. I even realized that I am still lucky to be like this. Because as Pope Francis said, ”Don’t eat well. Finish your food.” we can conclude that there are a lot of people who can’t eat enough food for them to survive. And fortunately, I belong to people who can eat meals three times a day.

            I realized that I must help people surrounding me especially who are in needs. As Pope Francis said,” St. Francis died with empty hands and pockets but with a full heart.” It’s alright to be poor but as not, we must help them. We must help the poor. Not just to receive a return from God but to make your heart full of love. Because he also stated that the most important subject that people have to learn in life is to learn how to love.

            And speaking of love, I also realized something about it. I must do everything to the people I love. I must show how I care for them because no one knows how long they will stay and when will they walk away. But as Pope Francis told the Filipinos, "Real love is about loving and letting yourselves be loved." I thought that I should embrace all the blessings that are coming for I believe that people come to life to impart memories that can hurt or love you more. But the thing is, we cannot force ourselves to love someone and force someone to love us. It just happens naturally when your heart says so.

            Talking about “hurting”... I know that it is normal to people to be hurt by someone or some events in life. At first, I can’t accept the fact that I am weak. I am weak to lose my loved ones. I am weak to see people suffering. I am weak to see my friends having problems. I am weak sometimes in our class. But thanks to Pope Francis who taught me to be strong. With a sentence he said to people, "Let us learn how to be weak, how to cry." I learned how to be strong.

            Life is indeed full of surprises. Just like God who comes in our life like a surprise. One moment we’re up then one minute we’re down. One moment we're okay then one second we're not. No one knows what will happen next. The thing is we must accept him in a surprisingly way. We must allow ourselves to be surprised by Him.

            All of those are the things I just realized when he visited our country. Those became a big help to me to know myself more. Those things really had a big impact to my life. At the end, I still give all of my heart to Him, our one and only Jesus Christ for He lends me a life to live in this world. Though Pope Francis, God answered all the questions circling inside my head.