June 6, 2006
Dear Journal,
I survived the first day of class! I was very nervous when I stepped on to the grounds of my new school. When I entered the IDS Multi-purpose Hall (MPH), everything seemed surreal. There were approximately 500 students lining up and the only thing I knew was that I belonged to section I-Gamma. I remember asking a kind looking teacher named Professor Flores on where should I fall in line. I also saw Michael Paul Roque, and he belonged to section Theta! I also saw my former schoolmate and our elementary class valedictorian Lance Maravillas busily talking to his newfound friends in his section, I-Alpha.
During the flag ceremony, we recited the "Panatang Makabayan" the old way, and we first years were mumbling into a new song which started with the word "Silahis". I also saw a fierce-looking teacher who seemed ready to pounce out from the stage everytime a student commits a misdemeanor, and I learned later on that her name was Professor Fe Tuanda. After the ceremony, me and my new classmates went to our classroom. Our classroom was huge! And situated beside a stage located in the so-called "IDS Mini-Garden". My mom assigned me to the seat nearest to the teacher's table, which was kind of scary. There were also three students, which I learned that were from St. Michael's College, who were talking and laughing loudly. Soon enough, I learned their names were Kimberly Labradores, Karla Caressa Ayoma (who seats on the right side of my chair), and the ever active and superbly generous vice president, Michael Macesar. On my left side sat Junaisah Macalabo and Stefany Caparida, who seemed to be the very best of friends, Esther Tabugo, and Maureen Erat, a classmate who would later turn to be my talkmate during classes and lunch.
I cannot remember what really happened next, but the first thing that came to my mind was that teacher who came back twice in our class to teach two subjects: English and Journalism. She was no other than Ms. Margarita Regina de Pedro Araneta. She seemed very nice, and she said that she was already "sumo" because she saw us twice during the first day of class. I remember her quoting her favorite saying: "Life is beautiful and so are we; that's why I recall her calling a someone named "Toti", who said that he wants to be the next president of the Philippines. I also remember Esther Tabugo, who snappily said that she was a salutatorian of SPED. She seemed like Hermione Granger when she said that.
The second most memorable thing was P.E., where Sir Yabu made a certain Jodric Palisbo do crunches on the table. I also recall Professor Melissa Casino, who praised Zuriel Rebollo for correctly answering the question: "What is Physical Education"? I also remember Glaiza Obido being made by Professor Abiera to elect officers for our TLE Class. While others were busily talking, I discovered that Jiggy Padilla, the one whom my dad said that was the youngest shooter in their Firing Range. Soon enough, we began talking, with his bestfriend Junelle Pagunsan about topics ranging from how the Padilla's were related to Rustom Padilla, about La Salle, and about a certain thing called D.I.C.E., a topic that I didn't know why they were laughing so much about it.
The least memorable was Math Class with Sir Larot. Sure, I wasn't bored that much, but those numbiiirs, iinntiiiijjjiiirsss, and jiirroooees seemed to drown in my head. Well, I wasn't the first to observe all of those pronunciations, because soon enough my classmates, especially France Dayrit, were chanting "paassiittiiib" and "niiiggaaattiib".
After the last period, I immediately packed my things. I saw my new classmates, some of them I've known and some of them I've not known yet, were hurriedly rushing out from the classroom. As I went out from my new classroom, I also saw some of the many unfamiliar faces that would probably become my best friends and worst foes.
And as my mom arrived, she asked anxiously: "Kamusta man ang school?".
I replied with a simple "okay".
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April 20, 2010
Dear Journal (Facebook),
As a fresh graduate of a very (and uber) prestigious high school, I can hear some of my peers outside IDS comment that people branded with the "Tatak IDS Ako!" mark can be very intelligent and holistic, and these people will surely be the leaders of the future generation while basking the success of being on top.
I can say that being placed in an really pressurized environment, especially in a place where everybody is scrambling to make it on top, even pass, can be as crazy and nerve-wracking as it can be. And what's more, being in a room full of interesting personalities excelling in different fields makes all things go BOOM. And probably being in the best section there is in my opinion too.
So here are my thoughts to the section where everyone loves the most, PHOTON.
1. Pressurized: With a feisty adviser in tow, gearing us to do our very best, we photon pipz should realize that at the end of the day, we garnered almost every honor a section could grip on (peace to others). And even if we lose, we can still put a smile on our faces and say "Past is past!"
2. Honor: It is an honor to be a student belonging to class Photon. Aren't you proud of it?
3. Optimistic: As we hurdle everyday challenges with a dose of humor from our resident comics (namely Harry, John Ray, and France), we still manage to smile and (luckily) persuade our teachers to postpone our quizzes and assignments (sometimes). Great, isn't it? And did you remember when we all said that we can do it and survive despite of the numerous threats of axing our grades and all the tremendous brouhaha? Well, instead of looking on the downside, we made sure that we could still achieve our goals!
Remember these before?:
Music-paste pictures (15th)
Music-sayawit (Jan)
Calc-long quiz (7th)
SS-long quiz (7th)
Chem-long quiz (7th)
CAT-finals (11th)
PE-finals (11th)
copy of discArte movie (7th)-i need dvd u_u
Research experiment (10th)
Practice vball (5th)-reckon can't go, soz... =.='
Vball tourney (anytime nxt week?)
Practice ringkie =.=' every after classes(7th,8th,11th)
(excerpt from Photon "Things to do" by Stefany Mae Caparida) ^_^
4. Triumphant: Triumph is not measured on how many medals a man can recieve, triumph is measured on how we conquer daily life's challenges. WOW! And we thought that we could not make it, but we made it! We triumphed in our own simple ways by facing bravely every obstacle and not giving up.
5. Outrageous!: Even if how serious the environment is, with loads of quizzes coming up, everyone can still manage to have some "fun" (and even play Volleyball inside the classroom during recess) despite the burdens of being an IDS Student. I personally remembered that Harry bemused me with his least-amusing comments and dished me with nonsense questions during Biology class. I can say that I was reaaaalllllyy stressed at that time, but that antic did cheer me up, and so did others.
6. Nerve-wracking: Nerve-wracking. In my whole life, I only experienced all the action, drama, comedy, romance, all genres...to match with different personalities with different backgrounds all clashed together to spin a fine but very strong web: a web of friendship, trust and love...PHOTON.
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My first and my last journal entries about my high school life. :) But still, high school forever. :D
