“Obstacles: Not a Hindrance”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
– Nelson Mandela

Education is one of the important aspects in life that one must acquire throughout his lifetime for it will serve as the key to his/her future. Through studying, your talents and abilities will be maximized and developed so that you would be able to use them in the near future for your own personal growth. But then as time goes by, education becomes out of reach to the children who wanted it, especially here in the Philippines. According to Ramota (2004), the Philippines’ tertiary education will likely face a crisis if the current trends in college and dropouts will continue. Due to continuing tuition hikes more and more students enrolled in private colleges and universities find themselves either dropping out or forced to transfer to state institutions. Well, you’re lucky enough if you were able to study in college, but what about those kids who weren’t even able to step their feet to the school grounds due to poverty and many other factors such as distance and transportation.

A few years ago, while I am looking for something to watch in the television, I came across a documentary on Channel 11 News TV. It really got me hooked and I was really amazed to what I have seen. To the students of Isla/Sitio Mababoy in Masbate, the distance  between their homes and their schools is not a hindrance in order for them to go to school and study. Imagine those kids who swim the distance which took them thirty minutes before reaching the other island where their school is located. It is a very dangerous act for the ocean is twenty feet deep in which they could drown easily once they’re not experienced in swimming and it is also very rocky which could cause them some injuries if they have not been careful. They didn’t even bother the dangers that may come their way just for them to be able to get the education that they wanted. Nothing is impossible for them and they were very determined and I salute each and every one of them for they did not let themselves to be overpowered by poverty, be left behind and just remain uneducated throughout their lives. They find a way even though it’s too risky, but still they did not stop doing what they really wanted to do, to study.

Some students nowadays, especially the rich ones didn’t even bother if they are doing well in classes, what only matters to them is the attendance and just to be able to finish their studies. They are taking for granted the opportunity which was given to them. Why is life so unfair! The ones who really wanted to study weren’t able to study while the ones who can study didn’t want to study. Ahhhh! It’s really annoying me! But then, life is full of surprises and you wouldn’t know what’s in the box for you. Just like the students of Sitio Mababoy, after the airing of the documentary of JP Soriano on Brigada regarding them, many well known people including presidential sisters, Balsy and Pinky Aquino donated funds for the building of little boats for the children so that they would not need to swim the distance anymore instead, they would just use the boat. It will lessen the dangers on the travelling of the children plus they will be able to get to school earlier than before. The project was now known as the Yellow Boat Project/Foundation. The foundation has already given away a total of one hundred fifty boats to the three communities in Masbate and it has been really a big help to them.

It is really up to the person whether he/she will pursue on a particular thing. If he wants it, then there are a lot of ways to achieve it and if he don’t, then there are reasons which makes him hold back a bit. But then, it is also important to try and risk on things rather than just playing safe, doing nothing and waiting for miracles to happen. Sometimes, it is also important that you make the first move. Even though you failed at first, you should never surrender and try again until you succeed. Life has full of challenges and if you let yourself be beaten down already without fighting, then you are worthless and you will not be able to achieve anything. Just like the students of Sitio Mababoy, they never surrendered the fight and just continue on with their lives and look at what they have achieved. Their hard works were paid off and they are living a comfortable life now. We should always look on the positive side of life and find ways to overcome the obstacles which we thought before were impossible to conquer!

“The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank”

“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.”

                                                                                                                                                    – Anne Frank

Words are really powerful.They are not only used as a means of communication but as well as to be able to impart messages that comes from the heart. Words can move a person in many different ways and these words can make an impact in our lives without us noticing it. A single word is enough to bring change or even a big change in a person’s life, either in a positive or a negative way. We need to be careful and sensitive enough to the words that comes out from our mouth as well as to the ones that we write for it can make or break a person.

Have you seen a diary? I used to have one when I was in grade school, but it was just because that our teacher required us to have one that’s why I have a diary. I can’t even call it a diary because all the entries in my diary were almost the same. Some people consider their diaries as their best friends to whom they can share all their feelings, stories and stuff. If you still don’t know what a diary is, I’ll tell you. A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting what has happened over the course of the day or other period.  Diaries are made with the express purpose of seeing a one-day publication, generally to have a final word, real or fabricated, of one’s life or career (Guth, 2010). Well, having a diary is a good way of reminiscing memories and travelling back to the past. It reminds us of all the good and bad times that used to happen in our lives. Sometimes, we just tend to laugh them off and make fun of those memories………. I really missed the good old times. 🙂

Diaries are meant to be kept as a secret, right? Only the author or the owner of the diary is allowed to read its contents. Some even put some locks in their diaries so that others would not be able to read the entries and the contents. But there is this one diary that is so famous around the world which is very open to the public, even I have a copy of this diary. This diary was entitled “The Diary of a Young Girl.” This diary was written by a thirteen year-old girl named Anne Frank. By the way, who is Anne Frank?

Her full name is Anneliese Marie Frank. She was born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. She is the second daughter of Otto Frank and Edith Frank. Her elder sister’s name is Margot Frank. The Franks were liberal Jews, wherein they did not observe the customs and traditions of Judaism.

What’s so famous about the diary? That’s the first question that came up in my mind. What makes it different to the other diaries? When I got to have a copy of her diary and started reading it, I was literally overwhelmed. Just reading the diary has sent chills to my very bones. It was one of the most notable piece of literature that I have ever read in my whole life. It just made an impact in my life and her life story was very inspiring. She was indeed a very brave young girl.

Anne’s diary was published by his father, Otto frank and was translated to many different languages. The Diary of a Young Girl is about the story of Anne Frank and how she spent her life hiding in the Secret Annexe with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Anne Frank received her diary as one of her presents on her thirteenth birthday. She named her diary “Kitty.” Twenty-two days later after she received her diary, her family went into hiding after her sister, Margot, got a notice that she will be deported. They went into hiding to the Secret Annexe which is found in Otto Frank’s office in Amsterdam. They were joined by the Van Daans and Mr. Dussel. There were some people who helped them while they were hiding like Miep Gies, who is a former co-worker of Mr. Frank. She was sending gifts and supplies to the group whenever the office was vacated.

Anne’s entries in her diary was all about how the group managed to survive and work inside the Annexe and how she interacted to the people around her. She wrote that in the morning, they were so quiet because work is on-going downstairs and they’re very careful not to be discovered and during the night, that is the time where they work. Anne is not that close to her mother, as well as to Mrs. Van Daan and Mr. Dussel who later on became her roommate. She has also developed a budding romance with Peter Van Daan during the course of their stay in the Annexe. Anne Frank was a very vibrant girl. She even described herself as a chatterbox. She was still able to manage to smile even though they were in a very complex situation. They were all very safe and sound for almost two years until they were betrayed and discovered in 1944. They were all sent to the concentration camps. Otto Frank got separated from his family because males were being separated from females. Edith Frank was the first to have died in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Anne and her sister, Margot were deported to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Margot was the first to have died and days later, Anne followed. Anne died of typhus in March 1945. Otto Frank was the only surviving member of the Frank family. He really wished that he would be being able to see his family again. Miep Gies was able to found the diary in the Annexe and gave it to Otto Frank. It was really sad that Anne Frank and her family met a very tragic end. They were not able to get to see one another again.

Anne’s diary has served as an evidence of the terrors and hardships that they experienced during the Holocaust which taken the lives of millions of Jews. Through the words written in her diary, she was able to impart her message to us. She was able to inspire us even though that maybe, Anne Frank herself would never thought and imagined that she would be able to touch the lives of the whole world because she never thought that her diary will be published.

Anne Frank is a very inspiring person, despite the fact that she was born in the time where the Holocaust happened, she was still able to manage to put a smile on her face and be able to face the terrors of the Nazi occupation. How about us? Nowadays, people tend to surrender to life’s challenges even though they haven’t even started the fight yet. Just imagine what Anne Frank has gone through in her life plus the fact that she’s not yet even sixteen when she died. Compared to what she has gone through, our problems were just an eighth of what she has experienced at a very young age. What a remarkable young woman! No wonder why she was one of the biggest names in the history. We should always have a positive outlook in life. Let us all be inspired and always look at the bright side of life, just like Anne Frank. 🙂

“The Butterfly Effect (Metamorphosis)”

” Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates “

                                                        – Kate Angell

As a person, we all have the right to do what we want in our lives. We were all given the freedom to become the person that we want to be or for short, our fate is on our hands. But then sometimes, there are factors and certain instances in our lives that will make or will require us to change from the person that we used to be, still, it is up to us if we want to go for that change or just remain in our old self.

Some people say that being beautiful is an asset. It could be true, but it is not only the outer beauty that counts but also the inner beauty. Some people forget about it that they are lead to do extreme measures such as visiting  a surgeon and undergo operations to look better (Styles,2013). But in my own opinion, they don’t have to. They can be beautiful in their own ways. Some people may tease you with how you look and make fun of your flaws, so what? At least, you are beautiful in the inside, not only beautiful, but more beautiful. Bring out the inner beauty in you ! 🙂 Just like Mia ! By the way, who is Mia?

The Princess Diaries has been one of my most favorite movies of all time. It is a very inspirational story wherein everyone could relate from in their own ways. It is a story of a very simple girl named Amelia/Mia ( Anne Hathaway )  whose life changes when her grandmother Clarisse Renaldi ( Julie Andrews ) who is the Queen of Genovia ask her to be the Princess of Genovia as she is the only remaining heir to the throne after Mia’s father died. In the story, Mia had to undergo changes in order to fit to the role of being a princess. It was really difficult at first, but she really needed to do it and accept the responsibility laid to her. After a long preparation, Mia has stepped out of her cocoon and turned into a very beautiful butterfly. But then, this change have its consequences.  Being a princess is not easy. Paparazzi and press people have been following her every move which sacrifices her private life. She was then bullied by her schoolmates for how she looked but after the change, she became famous in the school but she forgot about her best friend and their friendship is already at risk. Many issues have been thrown and the pressure is really onto her so she decided to run away. But then, in the end, she still took the responsibility of being a princess.

Is is alright to undergo change but it has to be for the better and not for the worse. But then, it is also important to keep bits of pieces of  the past of who we used to be. It will serve as a motivation for us to keep on striving hard and do better as well as trace our humble beginnings. Also, we need to be prepared for the change that we are going to make, just like Mia, because consequences and challenges will always be there and we have to stand up for the decision that we have made. After all, in the end of the day, after the storm has passed, the sun will shine and it will be the start of a new beginning. The change will be worth it once there is a growth in the person.

We could all be a butterfly. Once we are ready to step out of our cocoons, we will spread our wings and fly. We will explore all the possibilities, face the challenges of the world and grab all the opportunities available. Make the most out of  everything and do not limit ourselves to the horizons. Do not be afraid to take risk on having changes in your life. It’s just natural, people change from time to time so try to be the best person that you can ever be !!!!!! 🙂

” A Cup of Smile ” :)

” You can’t look up at a cupcake without smiling ”
– Anonymous

People tend to eat when they are stressed out on their lives. The food that they eat serves as their best buddy or best friend where they can let out all their frustrations and disappointments. A quote once said that when under pressure, males drink alcohol while women eat cupcakes. True isn’t it?

Cupcakes are one of the most famous desserts all over the world. They are easy to make that even a little kid can make it. This tasty little treat, nowadays, has a lot of flavors where you can choose from, starting from the classics ( chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and peanut butter ), fruits ( apple, banana, orange, strawberry, and lemon ), as well as the most unusual ingredients ( ginger, carrot, beer, taro root and even grasshoppers ) Really !!! Grasshoppers? I don’t think so. I can’t imagine myself eating a cupcake that is made from grasshoppers. But then, all of us have different taste buds and we’re free to try anything that we want as long as it’s edible. 🙂

We can also customize our own cupcakes. We can add some frosting on top with icing and drizzle it with chocolate or strawberry syrup and if you have a sweet tooth, you can have the caramel. We can also design it with fondant ( icing-like substance used to decorate or sculpt pastries ) which could be in any form. It may be a flower, a bear, a hat or anything your imagination could think of. We could also add some filling inside for additional flavor and to keep the cupcake moist. It is important that the food that we eat is pleasing to the eyes because it makes us salivate and helps in boosting our appetite.

For health conscious persons, you can also have a taste of this treat without risking your health through the vegan cupcakes. Vegan cupcakes are the healthier versions of a cupcake. This recipe doesn’t use dairy products such as milk and butter as well as eggs, instead they use some alternatives like the coconut milk.

Cupcakes are really magical for each bite is full of surprises which makes you crave and want to have more. Cupcakes leave a smile of satisfaction to those who have experienced to be under its spell. A spell of happiness and contentment. A  small cup that leaves a lasting impression on everyone who gets the taste of it, the young and even the young at heart. It is indeed a cup of comfort. A cup of smile………. 🙂

Taylor Swift’s Mean – An Inspirational Song to Everyone

” Try to be like the turtle, at ease in your own shell “

                                                                        – Bill Copeland

Taylor Swift has been one of the most successful personalities in the music industry nowadays. Her music has invaded the minds and the hearts of the entire world….. the young and even the young at heart. The lyrics in her songs have a story just like the pages of a book, once unfolded comes to life. Even a lesson can be learned …….

One of her songs that made a huge impact in my heart was the song entitled “Mean”. The song is all about discrimination, rejection and how one faces all its challenges. I could relate to it a lot because I also used to experience that before during my elementary days. Many people around the world are suffering from discrimination as well as bullying and the numbers continue to grow. The latest victim was a Fil-Am student who experienced cyber-bullying who later then committed suicide.

The song serves as an inspiration not only to me, but also to other people because this song helps and motivates us to go on with our lives no matter what other people say because we knew in ourselves that we are doing nothing wrong and we are just being ourselves. No one can dictate or judge us because we knew ourselves better than them. Our success is not on their hands but it lays upon our hands and we are the ones who will choose our own destiny. These challenges may tore us apart at times but what we don’t know is that they only make us stronger and mold us into a better person. We should never stop believing in ourselves  because it will be our greatest asset and  key instrument to be on top.  Someday a new chapter of our lives will unravel and we will all start a new beginning ……… a beginning where we are the stars of our own dreams and aspirations.