My nineteenth birthday is fast approaching. Fortunately, it's July 13 and unfortunately maybe, it's friday the thirteenth. Actually, I'm not afraid of this superstitious belief because it's already, perhaps, third time that my birthday point to Friday the thirteenth. Prayer is my shield, of course, no one knows.

To those people that made my year worth celebrating for, I thank you. There are so many of you that perhaps I can't name you one by one but mag-te-te-text-col-col-dyes lang tah. :D oki? Kidd. :D

 

Love leaves a memory that no one can steal

but sometimes it leaves a heartache that no

one can heal.

Te quiero mucho,

Ashley

            After reading that entry in my diary, my face gave a dark frown and my lips became stiff. I wondered why I wrote it before. I put down the diary and began to think, trying to sustain my curiosity. Unfortunately, how matter I tried digging circumstances in my memory; nothing came up to picture those words.  I found it very hard to remember since it was written a year ago. So, I just put in mind that maybe in that moment something unpleasant desolated my day that there were no other words to write on and instead of writing literal terms, I wrote that meaningful quotation. Until the moment I closed the diary. I sat still in the bed and enjoy the silence. My eyes rested on my wrist and reached that yellow baller. Yes, the yellow baller. My heart beat faster and faster. Finally, memories flashed in my mind…

Check out the full story here: http://authspot.com/poetry/the-memories-of-the-yellow-baller-2/

Published: Triond.com (2011)

The mining in Palawan has become a very controversial environmental issue that the government as well as the Filipino people, themselves, has been facing. The issue has bring out various environmental organizations such as Save Palawan Movement, Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (WWF-Philippines) and Tanggol Kalikasan impeding the mining activities and protecting the biodiversiy in Palawan. The point that they would like to stress is that Palawan is one of the provinces in the Philippines which is very successful in terms of Tourism. It is rich of attractive places like islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches, to name a few. Palawan is also the home of the famous Puerto Princesa Underground River, Kayangan Lake and Palawan Divers.

Puerto Princesa Underground River

It is very disgusting to know then, that the mining will destruct this very rich natural resource where the livelihood of many Palawan people depends.

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth. It includes removal of the soil. There are different techniques in mining in which the most harmful is the mountain top removal. This technique is done through the use of explosives and big machines. It is a common knowledge that Palawan is also abundant with mineral resources such as nickel, copper, manganese, and chromite. Needless to say, the place attracts several miners, and mining, so to say, can cause a very big problem to the biodiversity and natural ecosystem of Palawan.

In the news article, we can read that President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino wants to have a stop on this mining activity in Palawan, or if not, minimize. At the date of press covering, he said that the government will stop entertaining applications of mining in Palawan. He is also considering the same reason that the mentioned environmental organizations are giving: to protect the biodiversity of Palawan.

The Save Palawan Movement, a multi-sectoral coalition of concerned environmental, legal religious and other civic groups launched a campaign to gather at least 10 million signatures to put a stop to mining in the province. The campaign is being done manually and even online to spread the calling of “No to mining in Palawan”. Up to date, the campaign continues and people of all ages are enticed to support. All we have to do now, student or not, young or old, the government and even ordinary citizens not only of Palawan but as well as the whole Filipino community should work hand-in-hand to stop mining in Palawan and possibly, in several places which promotes successful tourism, protection of biodiversity and normal balancing of the ecosystem.

College life is a kind of depressing and tough. Facing the unending quizzes, making difficult assignments, burning midnight candles to set up reports, working on knotty projects, and preparing patiently for the arduous examinations are inescapable. However, MUST students are creative enough to find time in order to unwind. Aside from reaching up feat, they find space for hang-outs. Places around Cagayan de Oro City are already forthcoming in a way that they are designed to keep the students going.  The students nowadays are fond of window shopping, eating snacks served along the street, and surfing the net during their leisure time.

Mall Promenade

 

Mall promenade is usual for MUST students. Limketkai Mall is just few walks away from MUST. Most of the students set off to wander in this cool and pleasurable place to escape the nerve wracking mathematical formulae and equations they encounter inside the classroom. Window shopping is common in these places where one enjoys strolling around the mall and discovers its different sections. It is also a delightful mean to wipe boredom away without spending even a single cent.

Pabayo Street

Street Foods are also typical nowadays. Going out of school gives the idea of a full brain yet empty stomach. In such moment, food is already top in one’s mind. So, oftenly students simply give attention to the food serve just beside our school gate and it is pretty sure that one can expect fullness in just five pesos. Aside from food chains which offer low cost meals, street foods also lined up just outside the school. Stalls are now present serving light and delicious snacks such as kwekkwek, fish ball, tempura, and barbecue only at cheap prices.

Online World

 

Internet cafe grows in number within this time. Apart from academic researches, computers are also one of means of fun and time passing. Students are now prone and addicted to different merriment offered by the internet such as facebook, twitter, tumblr, myspace, and the like. Computer online games are also there. The most common is the Defense of the Ancients or commonly known as DoTa. It is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy video game where each team is there to destroy the opponents called Ancient, heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map. Most players of this game are young males.

These are just bits of innumerable means of fun made by the students. It is their way to relax and free themselves from gloomy corners they have had.

Enjoy More, Pay Less

Just click the title. This article of mine was actually published in Triond.com, where I post and publish articles to have some earnings. :3

Ah, no. I will just blog the content later. :D