_ eNiGMa_

Whenever I see this commercial, I hold back my tears. I remember my late grandfather. I grew up without a father and therefore he became the closest to it.

He died just right before I entered high school. When he was still in the hospital, I didn't care that much because I always thought of him as a super hero. I thought he could overcome anything. I was so oblivious to everything. I really thought he would recover.

When he died, everyone else in the family recovered fast. They say it's because they knew it was going to happen. I think what I thought back then was that-yes, tatay won't be around forever, but he won't leave us now, not yet. How wrong I was.

I still cry over his death even though so many years have passed because I wasn't able to tell him how much I loved him, how proud I am to have been raised by him. Even during his funeral, I couldn't say anything. I just cried and cried.

The difference between me and the girl in the video was that I never came back to give tatay the sandwich. And now I have lost the chance to do so.

Nagustuhan ko ang "Parisian's Life" ni Juan Luna hindi dahil sa ganda ng pagpinta nya dito kundi sa ipinapakita nito. Tingin ko ay napaka-misteryoso ng obrang ito. Nang nag-research ako tungkol sa "Parisian's Life", nalaman ko na ang tunay na paksa na mahalaga para sa ating mga Pinoy dito ay hindi ang babae sa gitna ng obra kundi ang 3 lalaki sa may likod. Ang lalaking halos naka-talikod ay ang ating pambansang bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal. Ang lalaki sa gitna ay si Juan Luna mismo. Ang huli ay Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin.

Para sa aking ay napaka-misteryoso ng "Parisian's Life". Sino ang babaeng nasa obra? kanino ang jacket na nasa tabi niya? Alam kaya ng babaeng ito na nahuli niya ang puna ng isa sa pinaka-dakilang pintor ng Pilipinas?

Parang tadhana na lamang ang nagdala sa babaeng ito sa parehong lugar kung nasaan si Juan Luna, Jose Rizal at Ariston Lin. Sa obrang pininta ni Juan Luna ay naipakita ang isang walang kamuwang-muwang na babae na sa isang araw na walang pagkakaiba sa mga araw na dumaan sa buhay niya ay nakalapit siya sa isa sa mga dakilang pintor natin at sa magiging pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas.

Ang ganda ng obrang ito hindi ba? Para na rin sinabi sa obra na ang isang estrangherong naka-krusan mo ng landas ay may magagawa palang malaking "impact" sa maraming buhay.

I took a picture of a 500 Peso Bill. It's Benigno Aquino in Alien/ Goo color. XP





These are magnets. 1 set is composed of 3 magnets. I bought 2 sets in Power Books. I didn't even know that these were magnets made for refrigerators. I placed them on top of my table and I'm going to use them for notes and such...





"If you manage to fold 1000 origami cranes in a year, your wish will come true," I don't know if its true but its worth a shot! I placed my 18 cranes in a heart-shaped mug. 9982 cranes to go!





I saw this outside a shop in SM Manila. It looks like a chandelier but its full of little stuff with colors white, black and red. It has Rubix cube, little shoe, stuff toy, and many other weird stuff hanging from it. It looks reaaaaaaaally cute...





I was bored so I drew. Its a bird's-eye-view of an angel with ivory dress, sky wings and ebony hair (wavy)...

I made this essay for a scholarship application in my dream school. This is the edited version. The question is: "What made you what you are now?"

My name is Jechrist Wallen M. Ramos. I was born on December 25, 1994. Now, I'm 14 years old.

I was raised by my mom. Even though my father was not there with her, she wasn't alone. There were 7 members of our family then: my grandfather, my grandmother, my aunt, my mom, my two uncles, and me. Our family wasn't the ideal one, but we were happy.

I am aware that my mom loves me dearly. Likewise, I love her dearly too. She tried to be a mother and a father to me. She played those roles well and together with the other members made me think that our family is perfect.

Suddenly, my way of thinking changed when I stepped into the walls of school. There, I met children who have a mother and father. I did not wish to be with my real father at that time as far as I can remember. I think I just wanted to see him out of curiosity but, mom suddenly asked me if I wanted a whole family. Of course, as a child, I said yes. I wasn't mature enough to think of questions like: "Why isn't my father with us?" My mother wanted me to be happy so she broke up with her boyfriend who is also her best friend. Then, my father came to live with us. The first few months that he was around were a very happy time for me. I thought mom was happy too. I thought everything was in its rightful place already.

My picture of my ideal family shattered after just a few months. Mom and dad started fighting. Dad went against the other members of the family. He started shouting at me. A time came when I and my father would not see each other even if we live in the same house. It was like he was working in some far off place. He would leave early then come home at dawn. Sometimes, I don't know who he was anymore.

My father left us, leaving only a note. It was a very painful experience. I can't remember what i did after reading the note except that I cried together with my mom.

After a few years, I got in touch with him again. That was the time when I was academically on top of my class. Every time he called, he would inquire about my grades and NOT me. He told me he wanted to come live with us. Again, my mom made me decide. It took a lot of thinking. My ideal family still may have hope. He may have changed already but again he may have not.

My answer was no. I realized that I do not want another person (especially my mom)to suffer just for me to be happy. I learned that sometimes things are better off the way they are.

I believe that things won't always be the way I wanted them to be. I will do my best to pursue what I want. But, if it is not for me, if God doesn't give it, then I'll stop wanting. I have faith in Him. I know He has good plans for me.

And with this experience, I learned to live through my falls. I made limits when thinking of negatives. I learned to swim in the big ocean of challenges. I saw how life balances itself. I learned to decide for myself. I learned to be strong.

I learned to shut bad things inside. I learned to stop tears to stop my mom's. I become too expectant of others. My being pessimistic sometimes reached its peak. Despite all these, I believe I did achieve good things.

I tell things to mom to relieve pain. We became closer. Still, she and everyone else, is enough for me. I became considerate of others. I don't want to stab those who are important to me or those who haven't done anything to me. I learned t o live through my falls. I made limits when thinking of negatives. I learned to swim in the big ocean of challenges. I saw how life balances itself. I learned to decide for myself. I learned to be something different than my father. I have become stronger. I do have weird finding about myself. It is probably a mutation of my experience. If I wanted to prove something, I'd prove it. I would reach it. I would do it for sure. During the past few years, I stopped after proving something. Now, I'd continue beyond those goals in life. I would become greater...