Intercultural Exchange Program in Japan ♥

AFS JENESYS Intercultural Exchange Programme 2011

I have written in one of my previous posts that I have been selected as one of the intercultural exchange scholar in the AFS JENESYS VS Program.

This is my first travel abroad and I'm very blessed that I have been to this great country at such a young age.

With my classmates and other JENESYS students at 16 HR, Yoshiwara High School, Fuji-shi, Japan

For the whole 12 days in Japan, I have learned so much about their history by visiting different places such as the temples in Nara wherein I learned the importance of religion in Japanese's life, the shrines and museums in Kyoto-shi and Hiroshima-shi, which I gained knowledge about the World War II, what really happened and how it affected the Japanese people. I learned the importance of PEACE and how difficult is it to achieve this thing.

I also had the chance to stay in a Japanese home with my host family and attend a Japanese school for one week. I have met different kinds of person with just the same personality, kind and welcoming. These are the traits of Japanese people which I love very much. I feel that I belong wherever I go and whoever I am with.

With Kariah (Australian JENESYS student), and the Drama Club of Yoshiwara Senior HS

In this trip, I have learned the most important lesson that I will never forget and will always remember wherever I am and whoever I am with:

"There is no right. There is no wrong. We are just different"

Busy Busy Busy

I have not updated this blog for over two months, last October, Ive been busy with several competitions like Math Olympics and Science Investigatory Project. Unexpectedly, we won CHAMPION in the Regional SIP and will compete in National Level this coming February 2012 in Baguio City, and in the Regional Math Olympics, our team won 4th place.

After the said competition, I went to Davao to take my college entrance examination in Ateneo de Davao University. The results are already available but I still dont have time to check.

During the last few days of semestral break, I did my seatworks and projects in Chemistry, Research, English, Physics and Filipino.

We came back to school on November 3 (Thursday) and took the Division Unified Exams until Friday.

The next week, Ive been studying all day and night for our 2nd periodical examinations and I am so blessed that my hard work payed off.

After the exam, we have been busy for our research paper which we submitted last Nov. 15 for the 12th International Congress for Ethnopharmacology in Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. We are still waiting for the notice of our acceptance. We hope that our study can pass their standards so we can be part of the congress for the next year.

Now, I am polishing our projects and group activities. I should make sure that I can attend classes and participate well since in 2 weeks, I'll be leaving again for the AFS-JENESYS Programme in Japan. I will be missing the lessons for 2 weeks, for the 1st time, I'll be absent in the christmas party and family day :(

Oh well, I hope after I came back, I can update my blog as soon as possible.

I will share my experiences in Japan to all my readers.

Sorry again if I didnt have that much time to update.

Ill make sure I can cope up :P

AJA!

GOD BLESS BLOGGERS!

"Salamat at Patawad"

ORIHINAL NA KOMPOSISYON

NI JEWELLE MAE P. SOLIJON

Mama, Papa...
Noon pa man, ako'y nagpapasalamat na,
At nagkaroon ng mga magulang,
Na napakabait, mapagmahal at mapag-aruga.

Bata pa ako noon,
Lagi tayong magkasama...
At kahit saan, kahit kailan,Ay nasasabi ko ang aking nadarama.

Tama ba?
Na sa aking pagtanda,
Ay di na marunong umako ng responsibilidad
O kaya nama'y magsabi man lang ng "salamat"?

Salamat at Mahal Kita,
Dalawang salitang di mailabas sa aking dila
Iniisip ng utak kong dukha,
Ang mga salitang ito'y napakahirap bigkasin dahil sa hiya.

Ngunit, alam kong ito'y mali
Sapagkat ang pagpapasalamat ay di namimili
Ilang taon nga lang naman ang lumipas,
Ngunit ang pag-uugali ko'y kumupas!

Ako po mismo ang nagkamali sa aking mga gawi
Patawad po at Maraming Salamat
Mahal na Mahal ko kayo
Mga magulang ko....

Jewelle is going to Japan!

As what I have posted before, I have qualified as an alternate in the Japan East-Asia Network of Exhanges for Students and YouthS or the AFS-JENESYS Programme this December 6-18 in Japan.

There were 55 student finalists and 32 alternates who qualified for the program and we were all contacted by the AFS Philippines coordinator about the requirements.

At first, I thought, it is impossible to complete all the requirements by 28, but as the days passed by, with God's guidance, my parents' support, my friends' motivation, and my determination to pursue my dream to go to Japan, I have finished all the requirements and passed it two days before the deadline.

Last thursday night, I got a call from Maam Dee, the AFS Sending Coordinator, and they thanked me for submitting the requirements before the deadline, and the words that I waited for so long, "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW ONE OF THE 55 STUDENTS WHO WILL GO TO JAPAN THIS DECEMBER." As I was listening and talking to Maam Dee, I was so shocked and mesmerized at the same time.. Too good to be true.. Immediately, I told my family about it, and then, my friends. They all congratulated me for the job well done and telling me that I deserved it.

Until now, its not yet instilled in my mind that I have advanced as a finalist.. Yet, I am very excited to go to Japan this December and meet new friends, especially, from different countries..

I want to thank everyone who helped me out, especially in their prayers.

Thank you Lord for the blessing!

Thank you AFS for the opportunity!

Thank You Teachers

I've seen teachers who worked for hours on their lessons, who were scholars in the field fail miserably, and I've seen teachers who, if you gave them five minutes before they walked in to glance over their material, they could run a class for an hour on any topic under the sun.

Students identify teachers by different types:

The Friendly Teacher


A friendly teacher, as the very term suggests, acts like a friend for his/her students. A teacher-friend, in fact, combines both the guidance of a teacher and the understanding of a friend. We all, at some point of time, aspire for an understanding teacher. Such a teacher acts like our friend, philosopher and guide.

The Funny Teacher

A funny teacher is like a God-sent to the students. Such a teacher always wants to see his/her students smile ands make learning a pleasurable experience. They are not clumsy, as most people think them to be. Rather, they are witty and bring in humor in the most subtle form.

The Ideal Teacher

An ideal teacher is the one we respect from our heart. He/she acts as a guide to the students, while not pushing them too much. Such a perfect motivates them and boosts their morale. He/she tries to encourage the students and refrains from criticizing them.

The Lenient Teacher

A lenient teacher is easygoing and takes things as they come. He/she is not overly finicky about things, such as doing homework on time or not sitting quietly in the class, etc. Such teachers very well realize that being strict with a child can only make him/her withdrawn. However, this does not mean that one can do anything in the class of a pampering teacher.

The Strict Teacher

A strict teacher is very tough on students. He/she always insists on adhering to the deadlines. Such a teacher dislikes any mistakes or carelessness on the part of the students. Students have to be extra cautious under such a teacher. He/she is like a disciplinarian, always keeping students on their toes.

Yes, there are so many types of teachers that the students classify, I am one of those students. I have many views or opinions about my teachers, I always nag when they scolded me, feel depressed when they embarrass me and etc.

However, as I ponder and reflect, the things that they are saying are true. The actions that I make reflects my personality. Despite the numerous embarrassing and depressing moments when they are scolding me, at the end of the day, I feel very grateful because I realized who my true family is.


True friends/family never hesitate to tell you who you really are, they tell you what changes you showed and your behavior also, and I just become conscious of the people who really care for me and those are my TEACHERS.


I am who I am right now because of my teachers, my second parents. I have been studying for almost 10 years and I encountered many teachers since then. They have different names, different residences, different major subjects and especially different attitude, there's only one thing in which they don't differ, their love and care for their students.


I am very thankful for the teachers who molded me to become a better person, a reflective kind of person, a person who is able to forgive and forget and learns how to look back.


The teachers are my best heroes. THANK YOU MAAM/SIR!

HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS DAY!


This is an entry to the Thank You, Teacher Blogging Contest on The Teacher’s Notebook

Another blessing...

I just want to share the blessing that I received.

Last April 14, 2011 in Holy Trinity College of GenSan, I applied for the AFS-JENESYS (Japan East-Asia Network of Exhanges for Students and YouthS) screening, and I passed all the stages during the screening.

We waited for almost 5 months for the results to come up. And last Thursday, Sep. 15, they posted the list of finalists and alternates for the last batch of JENESYS VS Program, and I, not expecting to be on the list, came up.

I was selected as an alternate, it means that if a certain finalist cant comply to the requirements needed, then, the alternate who complied everything will be the one to replace the finalist.

I was so shocked by then, the result was unexpected. I thanked God for the very rare opportunity given to me. Imagine... There were hundreds of participants who joined the screening in each region or chapter, and out of that thousands, I was included in the list?

THANK GOD! I was so happy and I told myself that I will not waste this opportunity. I will not be discouraged to pursue the requirements even though I am just an alternate.

I will do my very best to comply everything before the deadline.

To those who prayed for me, to be selected, I thank thee very much.

And to my parents who are very supportive from the screening till now, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!

I will give my best shot for this one.

Pls. pray for me and my friend, Christian Gino that we can overcome the obstacles and submit the requirements as soon as possible.

Konnichiwa Japan!

For the complete list of passers, pls visit this link.

September is Science Month!

As we all know, in the month of September, we are celebrating the National Science Club Month with the theme: "CHEMERGY: Chemistry and Science Clubbing in Synergy" in accordance to the International Year of Chemistry. Various science activities are lined up for the celebration of the said event, and one of these activities is the National Science Club Month Summit which is held last September 3-4 simultaneously at different regions.

Our school Science Club, the ANSHS Science Club Enthusiasts (SCE) which is affiliated to the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC) did not miss the event.

Post-Valentines Day

We all have experiences which are very unforgettable. In our English class this morning, Reminiscing is very important.  

Our teacher conducted an activity to see how good we are in writing. She placed a pen, diary, comb, mug, and a flower on the table and told us to use all those objects as a variable in our narrative essay.

All of us thought that it is a very difficult task, given only an hour to think of a good topic and put it into writing, however, as my classmates are bragging about the activity, a certain experience when I was still in elementary came up. It was indeed a memorable experience of mine and I decided to write about that event.

Here's the narrative essay I wrote:

Post-Valentines Day

     The clock was ticking, the birds were singing, the sun suddenly smiled and the light entered my window, indicating a new day.

      It was Monday, February 16, and everything was still the same. I took a sip of hot coffee from my mother's mug, then took a bath. Before going to school, a dirty comb approached me, I had no choice but to use it and afterwards, I sprayed perfume in my entire body.

Wikang Filipino, Wikang Panglahat

Tema: Wikang Filipino: Tinig ng mga Guro, Tinig ng mga Mag-aaral, Wika ng Kabayanihan

Mabuhay!

Kahit saang parte man ng Pilipinas ay nagkakaintindihan tayong mga Pilipino. Napakahalaga at napakalakas ng ating wika sapagkat sa kabila ng daan-daang mga dayalekto sa iba't-ibang parte ng bansa, napag-iisa tayo ng iisang wika, ang ating wika, ang Wikang Filipino.

Bilang mga mamamayan ng ating bansa, dapat nating paunlarin ang isip nasyonalismo at ipakita ang ating pagiging makabayan. Sa pamamagitan ng pagtangkilik sa ating mga produkto, sa ating mga nakaugalian, sa ating kultura, at higit sa lahat sa ating wika, naipapakita natin ang ating pagiging tunay na Pilipino.

Isaisip natin parati ang sinabi ng ating bayani na ang taong hindi nagmamahal sa kanyang sariling wika, higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda. Patunayan rin natin na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan!

Pilipino, ipagmalaki ang wika mo!

This is an entry to the Buwan ng Wika 2011 Blog Writing Contest sponsored by the Alabel National Science High School-SAKAFIL and The Teacher’s Notebook.

Diwa ng Tuwid na Landas

Tema: "Wikang Filipino: Tugon sa Malinaw na Programa sa Tuwid na Landas"

     Araw-araw na lamang tayo nakakarinig o nakakabasa ng mga masasamang balita, balita ng pagkamatay, pagkalat ng sakit, mga aksidente...

   Pero, hindi lang ito ang kadalasan nating naririnig na mga balita, mayroon ring mga balita kung saan natin nasasaksihan ang pag-aaklas o pagpoprotesta ng mga kababayan natin dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pagbaba ng halaga ng sweldo at sa pangkalahatan ay wala silang makitang pagbabago sa gobyerno.

Mga Pilipinong nag-aaklas

     Sa katunayan, hindi naman talaga totoo at walang batayan ang rason na "Walang Pagbabago sa Gobyerno". Hindi lang naiintindihan ng mga mamamayan ang mga sinusulong na programa ng gobyerno dahil nga sa ito'y mahirap unawain sa wikang hindi atin.

          Sa pangkalahatang sabi, hindi lamang nakakatulong ang ating wika sa pagpapa-unlad ng ekonomiya, ngunit pati na rin sa pagpapaintindi sa ating kapwa Pilipino sa mga tuntunin o programang naisagawa na ng ating pamahalaan para wala na mismong magrereklamo sa harapan ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno.

      Sa pangkalahatan, sa simpleng paraan, sa pagtangkilik sa ating wikang Filipino at sa paggamit nito, nakakatulong tayo sa pagbibigay ng kalinawan sa ating kapwa Pilipino at sa ganitong pamamaraan tuwid na landas ang ating kahahantungan.

This is an entry to the Buwan ng Wika 2011 Blog Writing Contest sponsored by the Alabel National Science High School-SAKAFIL and The Teacher’s Notebook.

larawan mula sa: radulce files

"Teamwork"

Ako ay isang mag-aaral. Alam ko, ikaw rin. 

At kahit saan mang paaralan, ang guro man nasa harapan, hala, nagkokopyahan!

cr to 4p

Cheating o pangongopya ng sagot. Kapag hindi ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon, iisipin mo talagang mali ito, ngunit pag ikaw na ang gumawa, dedepensa ka pa at ipagtatangol ang grupo.

Kadalasang dinadahilan ng mga estudyante kung bakit ginagawa nila ang pangongopya ay dahil sa gusto nilang matulungan ang kanilang mga kaklase sa mga bagay na hindi nito alam, ika nga, "SHARING IS GOOD".

Ngunit, mali ang pagkakaintindi ng mga estudyante sa terminong "teamwork", imbes na nakakatulong sila, nakakasama pa ito sa kanilang mga kasabwat, at sa oras ng kagipitan, damay lahat!

Ang tamang pagtutulungan o teamwork ay ginagawa sa klase o bago pa man magsimula ang exam. Ang pagtulong sa iyong kaklase sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo sa kanya ng mga bagay na hindi niya maintindihan ay isang halimbawa ng pagbabahagi o sharing.

Sa ganyang paraan, natututo ang mga estudyante sa mga tamang gawain at hindi sila lumilihis ng landas. Ang simpleng pangongopyang ginagawa ang umpisa ng pagkalulong ng mga estudyante sa bisyo, palagiang pagsisinungaling sa mga magulang at kung anu-ano pa.

Samakatuwid, ang inaakala ngayon ng iba na maganda at mabuting pamamaraan para hindi bumagsak sa exams ay imbes na makatulong, nakakasama pa.

Wikang Filipino: Instrumento sa Pagbabago

Tema Wika ang Instrumento sa mga Patakarang Pangkaunlaran at Pangkatarungan

Lahat ng bansa sa mundo ay may sariling mga patakaran, regulasyon o batas na kailangan sundin ng mga mamamayan upang maiwasan ang gulo at di pagkakaunawaan.

Ngunit, kung ating papansinin, lahat ng batas na ito, mapa-"house rules" man, "classroom rules" at marami pang iba, lahat ay nakasulat sa wikang Ingles, isang wikang banyaga.

The Rights of Every Filipino Children
-isa lamang halimbawa sa mga tuntuning nakasulat sa Ingles

Bakit ito nakasulat sa wikang banyaga na ang mga mamamayan naman na saklaw sa mga batas na ito ay mga Pilipino?


Alam natin na taun-taon, dumarami pa ang mga Pilipinong hindi nakakapag-aral sanhi ng kahirapan, kaya dumarami rin ang mga hindi marunong magbasa at sumulat, sila yung mga nahihirapang maghanap ng trabaho dahil hindi nakapagtapos, at sila ay mauuwi sa pagkapit sa patalim para lang mabuhay.


Dapat isaalang-alang rin ng mga mambabatas natin na karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay mas nakakaintindi ng wikang Filipino.


Sa paggamit ng ating wika sa pagsulat ng mga batas, mas mauunawan ng bawat Pilipino ang nais ipahiwatig ng bawat batas, sa ganoong paraan, liliit ang porsyento ng mga imoral na gawain.


Napakalaking pagbabago ang nagagawa ng pagtangkilik sa ating wika, hindi lamang natin ito napapansin, ngunit, sa patuloy na paggamit nito, tiyak na uunlad at magbabago ang kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Ano sa tingin mo?

This is an entry to the Buwan ng Wika 2011 Blog Writing Contest sponsored by the Alabel National Science High School-SAKAFIL and The Teacher’s Notebook.

hinugot ang larawan mula sa: unicef

Disiplina sa Paggamit ng Wika, susi sa kaunlaran ng Bansa

Tema: Wika sa Pagpapatupad ng Kaunlaran at Disiplina ng Bayan

Japan, Korea, China, at Singapore. Ito ang halimbawa ng mga mauunlad na bansa sa Asya.

Ano nga ba ang dahilan ng kanilang mabilis na pag-unlad? PAGKAKAISA. 

At ano naman ang nagbibigkis sa kanila? WIKA.

Kung ikukumpara, ang ating bansa ay naghihirap, at ang sinisisi ng mamamayan ay ang pamahalaan.

Lahat ng sisi ay napupunta sa iba, diyan naman talaga magaling ang mga tao, mahusay manghusga ngunit bago manghusga, dapat tingnan din muna kung may nagawa siya.

Wikang Filipino, ipagmalaki sa buong mundo!

Tema: Pagpapahalaga sa Pambansang Wika

"Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa malansang isda"- Jose Rizal

Filipino ang pambansang wika ng Pilipinas, ito ay isang kumbiyenteng kasangkapan sa pakikipagtalastasan. Maari kang magtungo sa alin mang lugar sa bansa at makipag-usap sa kapwa Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng wikang ito.  

Ayon sa surbey ng National Statistics Office (NSO) noong nakaraang taon, 87% o 58 milyon mula sa 67 milyong Pilipino ang marunong sumulat, magbasa at umintindi ng wikang Filipino. 

Ganoon pa man, hindi pinapansin ng tao ang katotohanan na karamihan sa mga Pilipino ang gumagamit ng Filipino bilang pangalawang wika lamang. May 22 milyon lamang ang nagsasalita nito bilang unang wika.  Doble ng bilang na ito o humigit kumulang 43 milyon  ang nagsasalita nito bilang pangalawang wika.

Fifteen!

"Growing old is mandatory but Growing-up is optional"

Yes, I am now Fifteen years old, but I cant fully say that I am already a grown-up.

The way I talk, walk, behave, and act is part of growing-up, and those who know me well, will also agree that I am still doing childish and immature acts, which is not proper for my age. LOL

However, despite being younger than my peers (I'm a year younger than most of my classmates), I can easily adapt to the environment, and can easily mingle with them. I believe that my friendly nature is very important in having friends.

Anyway, going back to the main subject of this post, which is my fifteenth birthday.

Im gonna share how my mood fluctuated in this day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buhay AlSci

Time passed by so quick!
Parang kailan lang nang isa din ako sa mga nangarap na makapasa sa entrance exam ng nag-iisang Science High School sa rehiyon, ang Alabel National Science High School.


Laking pagpapasalamat ko sa Panginoon nang ako ay matanggap sa AlSci, di ko sukat akalain na ang isang tulad ko, kung ihahambing mo sa mga nakapag-aral sa mga pribadong institusyon ay makakapasok pa sa top 5 noong entrance exams.


Nagsimula nga ang "era" ng AlSci Batch 13 noong Mayo, 2008.
Marahil nagtataka kayo kung bakit Mayo at hindi Hunyo...
Taun-taon kasi ay mayroong ginaganap na summer class sa AlSci para sa mga incoming freshmen, para ma-advance sa ilang topics sa 1st year.