Journal Entry #1
My
Expectations
To
be honest, I have a lot of negative expectations for this subject. (Nega ka
girl) Haha. It’s actually not that negative but I just feel like I’m really
going to have a hard time on this subject. Looking at the course description
(creative writing) after enrolling this subject made me think of the so many
writing activities that could possibly come about for the entire semester. Just
so you know, I was once a member of The Norsunian and one of the reasons why I resigned
in my position as a writer is because I just can’t handle writing. Of course
there are other reasons for my resignation but writing is a part of it. Let’s
just say that I consider writing as one of my weaknesses. (Char!) T.T However,
instead of thinking of it as something that could stop me from trying to write
more, I started to think of writing as an avenue where I can voice out all my
feelings and feel good about myself. Let me start off by mentioning what I
would expect to happen from this class. Well, since I really enjoy an
interactive class, I expect more engaging activities and not pure writing
activities alone. I also expect this class to be a bit challenging on my part
since as what I’ve mentioned earlier, writing is just not my thing.
We
know for a fact that teachers play an important role in the determination of
our success or failure in our college life. I for one am very expectant that
our teacher be the one who knows his/her standards but makes it a point that
that standard is attainable. (You know what I mean?) I expect that he/she be
someone who knows how to teach creative writing in such a way that we don’t get
bored and we get to enjoy the discussions and the activities every meeting. I
also expect him/her to be as good as the rest of our major teachers.
(Demanding! Haha) As to the subject, well since this is a creative writing
class, I really expect that writing will be the superstar and will always be
our worst nightmare. (Kidding! xD) I expect to learn more techniques in writing
creatively. But on a more serious note, I really want to survive in this class and
as much as possible prove that I’m not that horrible of a writer. For now, all I
can do is practice and maybe soon develop this “ability” in writing.
Journal Entry #2
Promises
to Keep
Some
say promises are meant to be broken. For some, they believe that promises are
sacred and need to be kept. Well, if you ask me, I believe that some promises
are meant to be broken and some are meant to be kept. Haha. Yeah! In my 19 years
of existence, I have made tons of promises already. Sadly, most of those were
not realized. This is probably because I am the kind of person who easily gets
discouraged and who easily changes mind. Haha. And so lately, I made another
promise to make only one promise for each year. (xD) I don’t want to sound as
if I’m bragging or something but I have been promising myself to maintain my
grades and for the last time become a Dean’s Lister. Honestly, I did not expect
that I could survive as a consistent Dean’s list awardee for the past three
years knowing that I’ve been under some known terror teachers like Dr.
Trayvilla, Ma’am Araula, and Sir Catapusan. But for some blessed reasons, I did.
Yey! Thank God!
Anyway,
my promise for this year is to maintain my grades and hopefully receive a Latin
Award (God willing). My elder sister graduated as Magna Cum Laude two years ago
and being the younger sister, the pressure arose as the same was expected of
me. “Magna diay si ate Rolyn, Dut? Aw ikaw pud unya ha,” said her friends and
mine. (Deep sigh) Though my parents never compared me with my sister, I want to
prove something to them and show them that I can make it. Also, my sister keeps
on telling me not to take the pressure too hard and constantly encourages me to
just do my best and enjoy my college life. (Oh yeah! I love my sister!) Heeding
her advice, I once again promised myself to do my best in everything that I do especially
when it comes to my studies. You might have noticed that I’m very competitive
in nature and this is probably the reason why – I am intrinsically driven to
fulfill my promise. For this semester, all I can say is, “Teachers, please be
good to me!”
Journal Entry #3
My
Perfect Imperfections
I don’t have a perfect body. Just like everybody else, I
have flaws and to name some of them is one way of saying that I am proud with
the body that I have. Let me start by mentioning some of my flaws that aren’t
really that bad. As far as I’ve known, men are usually the ones who grow and
have moustache. But for some weird reason, I have mine too. I guess it’s
natural for girls to also have them but mine is really thick and healthy. It even
freaks me out sometimes but they’re really obvious and funny. Haha. Anyways, I’m
not gonna use the rest of the pages talking about my moustache so let’s move
on. The second one is very confidential so I’m not gonna put it here. Sorry
guys. It’s a secret that only Ma’am Bevs and I know. Hahaha. Lastly, my armpits
are really dark and bumpy. Ough! I wonder how it got so ugly but when I started
plucking the tiny hairs on it, it started to become darker than the rest of my
body. This is the reason why I hate showing them off and so I normally wear
blouses or shirts that would hide them to conceal my “dark secret”. Haha.
Anyway, on the brighter side, my body is not just about
the flaws. I also have some parts that I am really confident about. To be
honest, I’m really proud of my face – the shape, my eyes, nose, lips, eye bags,
and everything. I’m not bragging or something but my friends, relatives, and acquaintances
say that I have expressive eyes and long elongated nose which is probably the
reason why some would think that I’m half Indian or something. Maybe my color
is also a factor in making them think I’m a half-blood. -.- Another thing is my
size. I’m only 5”1 and I’m quite slim and I don’t know if this is something
that I can be proud about or the other way around. But this is what God gave me
so I’m happy with it.
I may be imperfect; I may not have a coca-cola or
pear-shaped body but I am perfectly happy and content with the body that God
gave me.
Journal Entry #4
Anticipation of the Future
I’ve noticed that every time my teachers would give a writing assignment about an autobiography, they would always include the question “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” To answer that, let me start by mentioning my plans for the future. First up, after graduation, if God wills it, I really want to work immediately as a college teacher. For me to do that, I’m going to enroll in a master’s degree program and hopefully qualify for a teaching position. Next, I want to work and teach language abroad after having an experience in teaching here in the Philippines. Finally, I want to buy my parents a house and provide them with all the things they need. I am not going to elaborate each of my dreams for now but this is what I’ve been praying to God.
If you are to ask me where I see myself five years from now, I would probably say that by that time, I shall have finished my master’s degree course. Maybe, I would still be teaching in college but has already saved enough money to go abroad. (Char!) I believe that by that time, I shall have readied myself with all the necessary papers and documents for my trip. Additionally, I shall have provided my parents with the things they need but not yet with the house I promised them. Perhaps, I shall have also saved a little amount already but still not enough to build a nice house. Aside from this, I think by that time, I shall already have my boyfriend. Wahaha. I’ve never tried having one yet and I believe that by that time, by God’s grace, I shall probably be ready for such a serious commitment. This is how I see myself five years from now. All it takes is a lot of efforts and God’s grace for all my dreams to be realized.
Journal Entry #5
Put
God First
As
I was having my morning meditation one time, I came across this verse in
Proverbs 3:6 that states, “In everything you do, put God first and He will
direct you and crown your efforts with success.” I reflected on it for several
minutes and prayed. Then I realized how important it is to put God first above
all else. I’ve learned that when God becomes your number one priority, all the
decisions that you will make in life will be guided. Your efforts will be
repaid and eventually, before you even know it, you are already reaping the
fruits of your labor. Through this verse, I’ve also learned to be thankful.
Thankful for the opportunity God has given me to experience the joy of life; thankful
because despite my unfaithfulness to Him sometimes, He never left me; thankful
for directing me to go the right way; and above all else, thankful for saving
me from the wrath of sin. I’ve learned to make him the foundation of my existence.
I’ve learned that without him, I can do nothing. These are the most significant
lessons that I’ve derived out from this passage of scripture. This is why
Proverbs 3:6 is my favorite bible verse.
I uphold other
biblical ideals that have helped me shape my emotional, mental, and spiritual
health over these years. Now that I’m getting older and life is becoming
tougher, I’ve learned to be strong not only physically but also spiritually. I’ve
grown into a mature person who is responsible for her actions. I always make it
a point to acknowledge God in everything I do. Life is short. You don’t know
when you will die. But for as long as you’ve lived a life where God is the
first priority, it will be a life worth living fo
Journal Entry #6
A
Dose of Inspiration
I
am a person who sets a goal, focuses on that goal, and works hard to achieve it.
That’s why the quote “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” inspires
me. This quote serves as my motivation – my drive for everyday living. Aside
from the Biblical truths that I’ve learned, I also have philosophical ideals
(such as this one) that I hold on to. If you are to dig deep into this quote’s
idea, you’ll be able to comprehend that through humility and hard work, you’ll
be able to reach your dreams. You’ll be able to walk thousands of miles as you
journey through life. Surely, God is always present and is always ready to help.
Therefore, strive hard to reach your dreams. Do what you can do best. Trust
that God will help you be the person you wish to be. These are what this quote
taught me.
I
live my life one step at a time. I do not worry about what tomorrow may bring.
I always seek God’s will. I persevere. I
believe that in doing so I will not be distracted from my goals in life. I believe
that my journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Journal Entry #7
The
Melodies of My Heart
I
love to sing. Most of the time, I find myself humming any song while washing
the dishes, washing my clothes, looking at myself in the mirror, etc. Actually,
I have so many favorite songs. Most of them were gospel but I also have some
favorites from Disney soundtrack and other artists like Ed Sheeran, Adam Young
of Owl City, Taylor Swift, and others. For the gospel song, God of Every Story
by Laura Story is my favorite. How did I come to like this song you may ask? Here’s
the story. I was in my room watching some videos on YouTube one time. My sister
came in and told me, “Tej, i.search ba gud ng God of Every Story by Laura
Story. Chada!” I immediately typed the title of the song on the keyboard and
waited patiently for the video to appear. After a minute or so, a list of Laura
Story songs flashed on screen; I clicked on God of Every Story and watched the
video with my sister. After watching the video, my sister looked at me smiling.
Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Ingnan tikaw. Chada sah?” After that, I knew
why my sister wanted me to hear the song. She knew in the first place I was
going to like. She was right. I liked it. But what I really love about this
song is the message. It’s like a narrative of her life and the story of the
people she knows. My favorite part is the chorus that goes, “He’s the God of
every story. He sees each tear that falls. We may not understand but one thing
is certain, He is faithful He’s a faithful God.”
In the meantime, my favorite love song is
entitled “That’s how you know”. This is a Disney song from the movie Enchanted.
I love everything about this song – the melody, the arrangement, and the
message. I am really a big fan of Disney songs and after hearing this, I just
can’t stop but listen to it over and over until I memorized the lyrics. The
first stanza of the song are sets of questions that goes, “How does she know
you love her? How does she know she’s yours? How does she know that you love
her? How do you show her you love her? How does she know that you really really
truly love her?” The whole message of the song is about knowing how someone
loves you – whether by the efforts he exert, the things he give, the time he
spends to be with you, or even the words he tell you. Listening to songs is one
way of relaxing my mind and what I love about them is that they fit to kind of
emotion you are feeling at the moment.
Journal Entry #8
My
Sweet Cravings
One
of my favorite segments in Lifestyle Network is Eat Street. Eat Street is a
television show featuring several food truck business that offers tons of
affordable yet appetizing street foods. Aside from this, I love to watch
cooking shows like Mad Hungry, Master Chef US, Curiosity Got Chef, and so many
others. I may enjoy watching these segments but to be honest, I’m not a food
lover. I don’t even know how to cook. Seriously! I don’t eat much and I guess
it’s quite obvious with my body. When I eat, I easily get full. However,
despite my small appetite, I also have some favorites. Let me start with the
general ones. I love love love sweets. I mean, give me chocolate, give me ice
cream, mango float, cake, and all sweet foods and I’ll eat them all. Haha.
Kidding! I even eat one bar of cloud nine every after lunch for that matter.
But that was before somebody told me that eating too many sweets can lead to a
greater possibility of having diabetes. Hearing that, I got scared and stopped.
Not really stopped like totally stop eating sweets but now, I only eat
occasionally. Yet again, my favorites are still my favorites.
For
the specifics, I’ve mentioned earlier that I love chocolates. My favorite
chocolates are cloud nine, nips, and sneakers. Ough! So mouth-watering. And it
doesn’t stop there. I also love cakes. My favorite? Triple chocolate roll from
Red Ribbons. I mean, it’s mostly chocolate but it’s not as sweet as some other chocolate
cakes I’ve tasted so far. For the ice cream, my favorite flavours are rocky
road and double Dutch. Just imagine the almonds, mallows, and chocolates, all
mixed up in one ice cream. Glorious! xD Anyways, you might be wondering if I
have one favorite dish/viand. Well, I do have one. It’s this back ribs from
Lord Byron’s. It’s really big and so delicious. You can try it sometime if you
want to. xD
Journal Entry #9
My
Super Heroes
I
am very thankful that God gave me a pair of wonderful people who reared me into
becoming the person I am today – they are my parents and of all the people I
know, I consider them my favorite. Why? Lemme tell you why. My father is very
protective. He doesn’t always approve to any consent we ask especially when it
involves going to other places. He makes it sure that he knows who we are going
with and where we are going to before he says yes. He’s also very strict when
it comes to our suitors. He doesn’t want us to engage in any relationships
before graduation. That is the reason why until now, none of us has any
boyfriend yet – not even my elder sister who is already 22. He wants us to focus
our attention on studying and fulfilling our dreams. He’s very authoritative
and disciplinarian. He makes it sure that we don’t get spoiled and learns what
is right from wrong. He taught me how to manage my time well and how to balance
my priorities from other things. He also taught me how to be responsible with
my actions.
My
mother on the hand never lifted a rod on any us. Unlike my dad, her style of
disciplining is more of the verbal rather than the physical. She taught me how
to be responsible as well. She taught me how to wash my own clothes, do the
dishes and perform errands at home. I consider her my best friend. I tell her
my secrets, heartaches, joys, and all other random stuffs. However, we don’t
get along sometimes. Like sisters, we also quarrel even with small things. I
even talk back to her sometimes, which I know so well is not good. I am such a
terrible daughter. To be honest, I want to put a stop to this and so I do my
best not to hurt her feelings by obeying her and making her feel how much I
love her. I consider my parents my favorite people because they showed and
taught me how to live a life that is God-centered. I love them so much just as
they love me. I hope they’re proud of me because everything I’m doing is for
the Lord and for them.
Journal Entry #10
Greatest
Blessings
I
may be small but I surely have lots of strengths. I get it from the people
around me and the one who created me. Allow me to mention some of them. First
up, God. God is my strength because He keeps me going everyday. He gives me the
air that I breathe, the water that I drink, the food that I eat, the people
that I love, and others. Without Him, I am nothing; without Him, my life is
useless; and without Him, everything about me would be meaningless. Next, my
family and loved ones. I consider them my strength because they inspire me to
go on and enjoy life. They nurtured me to becoming the person I am today. They
guide me with the decisions that I make. I may have quite a few unreasonable attitudes
sometimes but they understand me for being me. Finally, my friends. They
influence me with good values and ideals that helped shape my personality. Like
my family, they understand and accept me for who I am. They are angels sent by
God for a purpose.
These
are the people behind my strength. They are gifts; blessings I will always
cherish. Without them, life would be dull and ugly. They are the reasons why my
journey in life is fun and exciting. Thus, I always take time to thank those who
made my life colorful. I take time to thank those who strengthen me.
Journal Entry #11
My Achilles’ Heel
I
was born weak both physically and emotionally. My immune system is not that
resistant to diseases. I have allergies that can’t be explained. I have a very
small appetite as well. I easily cry. Sometimes even, I cry for no reason. (Weird!
Haha.) I easily feel pity for people who don’t have something to eat, who are
living in the streets, who are so deprived of a comfortable life, and so much
more. In short, I have a soft heart. This means that I also have so many
weaknesses. One of them is my family. They are my achille’s heel. Losing them
would probably be the worst nightmare that will ever happen to me. I mean,
we’ve been together all these years you know. They are the reason why I’m
always inspired everyday. They are the ones who strengthen me and to lose them would
probably cripple my life from moving forward. However, I know that when they’re
already gone, we’ll soon be reunited again in heaven with our savior.
Another
weakness that I have is my friends. They inhabit a big part of my life which I
consider a great blessing from God. In one way or another, they’ve also helped
shape my personality and my being. They’ve become a part of me. Hurting them
would also hurt me. When they’re happy, I’m happy. When they’re sad, I’m sad.
It’s like we were made for each other with a purpose. That is why I treasure
them so much. I cherish every moment with them while I still can. I make them
laugh. I make them feel special. I know it’s hard to lose people you love most
especially when they’re the only ones you got. But the silver lining lies on
the fact that soon, you will meet again in heaven. Having the ones you love
around you is a gift from God. Treasure every moment with them before it is too
late.
Journal Entry #12
There’s
Victory in Jesus
Triumph
as defined by Oxford Dictionary is the state of being victorious or successful.
The prompt for this entry is about my triumphs. I kept thinking about the
incidents where I became triumphant and thought, how can one become victorious
in life even if the battle is not done yet? I pondered upon my own question. Then
I realized that you can be victorious even when the battle is not over.
I
was born with a purpose. My purpose is to live a life which is Christ-centered.
That is why, accepting Jesus Christ as my personal savior is my greatest
triumph. Christian life they say is battle field. When you accept Christ as
your savior, you declare war with the enemy, Satan. Indeed, living a life according
to God’s will is not easy. Satan works 24/7 to distract you from your focus
with God. He tempts you to do evil things which are not pleasing to God. Every day,
he plots for your destruction because he wants you fail. You, as a child of God
must then make it sure that Satan cannot do his evil plans on you. You work
hard, study hard, pray and read your bible every day. This is my war with
Satan. My battle has started when I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. Every day,
I ask for God’s guidance for me not to be ensnared by Satan’s trap. I want to
die gloriously. A death where I can say, “I have fought a good fight of faith.
I have finished the course. I have won the race.”
Journal Entry #13
I’ve
Got a Dream
“I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream, I just
want to see the floating lanterns gleam. And with every passing hour I’m so
glad I left my tower. Like all you lovely folks I’ve got a dream,” thus sang
Rapunzel in the animated Disney movie Tangled. This episode was when Rapunzel
and Flynn Rider (whose real name is Eugene) left the tower where Rapunzel
resides and decided to drop by Snugly Duckling which is a bistro filled with
Ruffians and Thugs, a group of mean, brutal, and sadistic men. Anyway, to make
the story short, they danced and sang (Disney-movie-kind-of-thing) and Rapunzel
was satisfied with her decision to leave the tower and follow what her heart truly
desires – to see the floating lanterns on her 18th birthday. Why am
I saying this you might ask? Well, just like Rapunzel, I’ve got a dream. That is
to become an engineer, a human engineer. I want to produce doctors, engineers,
lawyers, accountants, policemen, etc. in the near future. I know that nobody
became rich because of this profession (well maybe some did) but the joy when
you see your learners learn is the one thing that money cannot buy. All that
matters is your burning desire for teaching.
Anyway,
my dream is not limited to becoming a teacher only. I also want to repay
whatever my parents have done for me and my siblings – that is sacrificing to
keep us all in school. I want to be rich and famous. Haha. But yeah, I really
want to become rich, I mean who wouldn’t? But with the kind of profession that
I want, I guess it would be impossible for that dream to be realized. That is
why, if given the opportunity, I would love to work and teach language abroad.
I want to earn dollars you know. Hahaha. I also want to purchase a house for my
parents before I get married. Probably a mansion or something. Haha. (Libre
lang mangarap!) But yeah, I want them to feel the comfort of living which they
did not experience their entire life. I want them to stop working and start
enjoying life. I guess they really deserve a lot of that. Well, that’s it.
These are my dreams and I’m really determined to fulfill that through God’s
guidance and providence.
Journal Entry #14
My Parents' Adventure
The prompt for this
journal entry is to write something about my parents. I thought of it for
several times and realized that if I’m going to write everything I know about
them, I would probably be able to write a novel. So just to condense things
out, I’m going to share with you their love story. I’m going to use their real
names by the way to make things more romantic and a little bit like a
teleserye-kind-of-thing.
Evelyn and Ronie’s love
story started in a very unlikely manner. Both of them were then studying in a
Bible School in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. Evelyn took the course
diploma in bible while Ronie took up bachelor of religious education. The girls’
dormitory was separated from the boys’ which would make it impossible for Ronie
to notice Evelyn and vice versa in such a quick instance. In short, they were a
stranger to each other and were completely unaware of each other’s existence. During
their stay in the campus, Ronie came to admire some girls; Evelyn also did with
some guys. That time, they still didn’t know each other though they were
classmates in some subjects. During that time, Ronie had one specific girl he
was praying for. He considered her an angel who was sent by God for him. She
can be described as a demure, conservative, and undeniably beautiful lady who
goes by the name of Sharon. Sharon happens to be Evelyn’s classmate and
eventually became her friend. As a friend, Sharon would of course tell her about
some of her (Sharon) admirers and suitors and that includes Ronie. That time, Evelyn
also had a suitor named Erwin. As she would describe him, Erwin was not that
appealing. His posture would seem as if he was a braggart young man who is a
threat to other students. Evelyn would also share this with Sharon. Anyway, to
shorten things out, Ronie failed to get the ‘yes’ of Sharon; Erwin did the same
with Evelyn. Few months passed, rumours spread that Sharon and Erwin are in a
relationship. Naturally, Ronie was hurt and got discouraged. Several months
passed, Ronie opened his heart for another lover. He started to notice Evelyn
and eventually came to like her. Again, he prayed for her and asked for God’s
guidance and to make the story short, Evelyn came to like Ronie in return, got
into a relationship, and got married. Now, they are happily living in the small
town of Zamboanguita with four lovely children.
What you’ve read above
is just a glimpse of their love story. They have a whole lot of other
adventures, struggles, and challenges which, in one way or another strengthened
their relationship as a couple. As of this moment, they continue to stay strong
and united for us despite some inevitable problems that would arise. They
always remind us to love each other because soon, when they get old and die, we
will still be the ones who will be staying together. They are my heroes and I’m
very thankful to God for this wonderful gift that he has given me. I will
always cherish every moment with them, thank them for all the sacrifices they
have done for me, and remind them through my actions how I love them so much.
Journal Entry #15
When
I am famous...
Dear diary,
Today
was really an exhausting day. As early as 4 o’clock AM, My colleagues and I together
with the Storm Model Management crew were already travelling from New Jersey to
Beverly Hills for a runway show for Pennina Torné’s wedding gown collection. It
was one of the biggest runway shows that I’ve ever attended in my entire
modeling life. Of course, the prestigious event was graced with other famous
models from different modeling agencies like Tyra Banks, Georgina Wilson, Joey
Mead King, and others. A few minutes later, the show started. While on the
runway, I had a lot of fun and felt really comfortable with the satin, chiffon,
fit and flair wedding dress I was wearing. All eyes were on me and there were
camera flashes here and there.
After
the show, we became so worn out but still the event organizers and the designer
Pennina Torné applauded us all for doing a great job on the runway. She even
complimented my catwalk. The press were also given their time to interview us
after the show which lasted for almost an hour. Camera flashes were all I see
wherever I look which probably was the reason why I felt a bit lightheaded all
of a sudden. I didn’t know what happened next but the last thing I could
remember was that everybody was calling my name until the voices disappeared.
When
I woke up, I was already in my room. Only then did I realize that the whole
thing was all a dream. Then, I stood up, faced the mirror and told myself, “One
day, I’ll become as famous as the person I was in my dream.”
P.S. It was just a
dream but it felt so real. I think it’s gonna come true. Really! xoxo ^.^
Yours
truly,
Everon
Journal Entry #16
Lazy
Leopard Learns His Lesson
There was once a spotless yellowish animal in the jungle named
Leopard. He always boasted about his perfectly flawless skin. He kept telling
about his beauty to his friends and everyone he met along the way. Aside from
this, he was also very lazy. He preferred to sit and face the mirror than to help
the rest of the animals look for food for the winter. Some of his friends tried
to convince him to help them hunt but he was so hard-headed. He was afraid his
spotless and flawless skin might get dirty if he’d help them. Because of this,
most of the animals in the jungle despised him.
One day, Cheetah and Puma decided to report Leopard’s
laziness and vanity to king Lion. As the king of the jungle, Lion had to do
some disciplinary measures to make Leopard learn his lesson. Immediately after
their conversation, Lion talked with Leopard and told him everything that
Cheetah and Puma had told him. Leopard cried as he nodded his head. The other animals
saw what king Lion had done and thought that maybe Leopard had already learned
his lesson. However, the next day, Leopard was still as lazy as he was before.
They got angry and thought of something that could make Leopard regret his
laziness. That night, the animals executed their plan.
When Leopard woke up the next day, he was terribly
shocked with what he saw. His body was covered with black and gray spots. All
the other animals saw and laughed at him. He ran as fast as he could in the
river and tried to remove it but to his surprise, the spots were permanently printed
on his once spotless and flawless fur. The animals were taken aback with what
they did. Leopard got very sad. His friends and the other animals comforted him
and told him they were the ones behind the whole thing. They apologized to
Leopard and he wholeheartedly accepted their apology. After that, Leopard
learned his lesson and started to help the other animals in the jungle hunt for
food. From then on, Leopard learned to love his skin with the spots on it and
became the most helpful animal in the entire jungle.
Journal Entry #17
No
More Night
The
song “No More Night” always reminds me of a memory that happened a few months
ago.
As Baptists, it is customary for our organization to host
annual conferences to different churches every year to get together and
fellowship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. That time, Mabinay
Fellowship Baptist Church hosted the conference. It was a three-day activity
that basically centers on studying the bible, praising God, and having
fellowship with the other Christians from all over the Baptist churches in Negros
Oriental. Our whole family was there of course. To make the story short, I
thought I would just be an ordinary participant in the conference. Little did I
know that I was going to present a special number on the last day upon the
recommendation of my father. I was forced to prepare a song in the span of two
days. I only had the chance to practice on the day of my presentation which bothered
me. I chose the song “No More Night” since the theme was centered on Rapture
and Second Coming. I prayed, dedicated my song to God, and asked him to take
care of everything.
When I stepped on the stage, I could feel my body shaking
in tension. My hands were as cold as ice. Seeing the number of people staring
at me makes me even more nervous. Before I could start, I uttered a short
prayer in my mind and breathed deeply. I started strong, I guess. But while I
was singing, I really felt comfortable and eventually gained my confidence. I
finished the song with ease. Smile was painted all over my sisters faces as I
approached our pew to take my seat. They said I rendered it really well. After
the sermon and during the fellowship time, the rest of them commended me for my
song number. I never expected it to be that good that all I could do was thank
God for giving me the confidence and the beautiful voice for His glory and
honor.
Now, whenever I hear that song, I am reminded of this inspiring
experience that will forever will stay in my heart.
Journal Entry #18
Wishes
Do Come True
When I was still a little girl, all I wished was to have
all the candies and chocolates in the world. I never cared about having a nice
pink dress or owning a pair of the coveted pink Barbie shoes or buying a sailor
moon bag. As long as I’m holding a piece of candy on my palm, I’m satisfied.
But
as time passed by and as I was growing up, my priorities and wishes started to
change. When I was in the elementary, I wished to graduate with flying colors.
Sadly, my efforts never made me realize that dream. When I reached high school,
my wish from when I was in elementary more or less remained unchanged. Still, I
didn’t make it. I was very disappointed with myself. Now that I’m in college, I’m
really hoping for a miracle to happen. A miracle that one day, I’ll soon
receive one of the most coveted awards a college graduate could have, Latin
Award. This has been my wish since I was 7. If this would come true, I would
probably be the happiest person in the entire Milky Way Galaxy. No joke! Having
this award would open countless doors of opportunities for me. Just imagine the
possibility of being exempted from taking the Civil Service Exam or probably be
hired directly in the position applied for or be recommended to work someplace
else outside the country. How wonderful could that be! In short, it would
change my life forever.
I’ve been working on achieving this for almost
three years now. I’m already on my last lap in my college race and I’m really
hoping that all my efforts will not be put to waste. I’ve invested so much on this
BIGTIME and I am hopeful that God will give it to me.
Journal Entry #19
Panorama of Optimism
I had been living in this world for 19 years now. Within
that span of time, my attention was solely glued to living and surviving in
this cruel world. Everyday, I see different sets of windows that depict
different pictures of reality. I encounter lots of different people and
personalities from different walks of life. I hear different news about global
and local occurrences. I come across different circumstances that may alter my
perspective in life. I encounter chaos and disorder in some parts of the globe.
These are just some of the harsh realities that I intentionally or
unintentionally come across everyday.
If I were to choose one window to look out for the next
six months, I would choose the one that portrays contentment, happiness, and
satisfaction. The scene would probably be centered on a complete family having
their dinner together with authentic smiles painted on each of their faces; or probably
a community where everyone is working together as a team, helping one another
in each person’s pursuit for success and happiness; or probably a place where
everything is in order and where everyone is working towards the goal of living
a peaceful life. I want to see this view to keep me reminded that not
everything in this world is purely about the turmoil and confusion but is also about
bliss and delight. Everytime I look out this window, I am reminded of the quote
that says “After every rain, there is always a rainbow.” That rainbow is our
hope – the hope that keeps us going everyday and the hope that drives our fears
away as we carry on in our journey in this uncertain wilderness of sin.
Journal Entry #20
The
Unpleasant Surprise
I am just an ordinary truck driver working for a delivery
business, Bizarre Transport. I have been working here for a couple of years
already but never have I encountered anything like yesterday.
The sun was about to set, and I was on my way to pick the
last transport of the day. I was heading to an old theatre where I would pick
up a 49 year-old grand piano. Upon reaching, a suited man greeted me and gave
directions as to where the piano was. Judging from his voice, I knew he was the
man who called for the delivery. His name was Ledo Wright, a bald man in his
late 50’s. He could either be a performer or the owner of the place. He told me
to have the piano delivered to the shop of a furniture repairman 20 kilometers
away. He looked kind but something in him seemed too suspicious. Before I left
for the repair shop, he warned me to never open the piano. He seemed so
insistent about it.
After
almost an hour of travelling, I finally reached my destination – a shabby old
furniture shop in the middle of nowhere. I wondered why it had to be delivered
this far. The owner of the shop was a skinny man in his early 30’s, wearing a
blue jumpsuit. He looks more like a mechanic than a furniture guy. He probably
inherited this shop from his parent judging from the shop’s age. He helped me
unload the truck by pushing the piano down a ramp. I watched him as he checked
the piano for defects. He opened the piano to check the strings. Much to our
surprise, there was a dead body in the piano! I am pretty sure she was not part
of the shipping manifesto.
We
called the police for them to investigate the crime. All along I have been travelling
with a corpse without even knowing.
Journal Entry #21
What’s The Matter With Them?
It
was December. This month is considered to be one of the busiest times of the
year. Families, friends and couples usually rush to department stores or photo
stations to have their pictures taken as a remembrance for celebrating
Christmas or to have their photograph for a holiday card. As a family
photographer in a large department store, I get a lot of costumers during this month.
Though I didn’t get a lot of compliment from people I’ve worked with before, I’m
making a pretty much good living out of it. As a professional photographer for
5 years, I’ve encountered and met so many different kinds of people which made
me develop that skill of telling their story by simply observing their facial
expressions and gestures.
One
day, a rich family came to me. There were four members in their family – the husband
and wife who were in their mid thirties, an elder son about 16 and a younger
sister about 8 or 10. As usual, I welcomed them with a smile and asked them
with some basic information before I took their picture. Unlike the other
families that I’ve worked with before, I couldn’t quite get into the real
picture of this family’s story. But I’m sensing something was wrong with them
especially between the husband and wife. From the way I look at them, I can say
that both children were close with their mother. I can also tell that the wife
was a bit distant with her husband. I can’t figure out what exactly the reason
was but I’m sensing a conflict between the couple. Money matters perhaps? I
don’t know! But in spite of that, I admire the wife for trying her best to be
strong. No matter what their conflict or issues may be, I can really say that the
couple were really trying their best to make their relationship work out for
their children.
Journal Entry #22
The
Sweet Life
Laura and Martin have been living in a stylish two-storey
house in Lincoln Avenue, California for three years now. They’ve moved here from
Boston because they want to experience the comfort of living to a different
city. Their house is very modern and elegant. The walls are painted pale gray with
a white accent on the window and door jams while the roof is painted ash gray.
The front yard is well-groomed – the mow is properly manicured, flowers are
well-taken care of, and the pavers always look so new.
The
couple has been married for six years. They were only blessed with one child
because after Laura’s pregnancy, she was diagnosed of stage 2 ovarian cancer.
Amazingly, she survived the treatment and is now working as the manager in a
very prestigious shipping company, Rain or Shine Inc. Martin, on the other hand
is working as the director of the Eye Center at Boston Medical Center. At the young
age of 35, both of them were already very successful in their careers. Their
son Dexter just turned 12 and is moving on to grade 7. They have 3 helpers at
home – Claire who does the dishes and washes the clothes, Susan who cleans the
house and cooks the food, and Beth who watches over and takes care of Dexter.
After
Laura’s medication, it has become a routine for the family to go on a family
date every Friday. They never skip a week without doing so because they always
want their relationship as a family to become even tighter and stronger. Every
Sunday, they would attend the Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Boston
together with their three helpers. Despite the very busy schedule of the
couple, they see to it that their needs as a family are still attended to. They
make it a point to sustain a strong family relationship that stays together and
serves the Lord together.
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