NEW YEAR, NEW ME! In every ending, there is always a new beginning. The year 2012 ends and a new year, 2013 starts. New Year, new life… I usually hear these words whenever New Year comes. So, I need to have a new life because it’s New Year, right? This 2013, I will try my best to change everything I need to change with myself. I have to eradicate those bad vibes and replace it with new ones. This past year, I admit that I was so negative; meaning, I didn’t look at the positive side of everything. I did not have confidence in myself. This year, I will become a positive thinker because I believe that ‘man often becomes what he believes himself to be. So, if I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end up by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity even if I may not have it at the beginning. “Fear is the greatest barrier to success.” I also admit that I became weak these past years. So now, I will become stronger to face all my fears. If I let my fears dominate me, then nothing will happen. So now, I will have the guts to surpass all the obstacles that come along my way to success. I will become more careful with the words I utter because a careless word may kindle a strife. I will extend my patience in doing my school works. I will accept defeats. These defeats are just stepping stones on the way to success. So, if I fail now, I will strive harder so that I will succeed tomorrow. Let go of the past, focus at present to have a brighter future. If I can accomplish all the things that I have mentioned above I am sure that I will already become a better person---a new person this year and the years to come.

GIVE LOVE ON CHRISTMAS DAY “Whenever I see boys and girls selling lanterns on the streets, I remember the child on the manger as He sleeps. Whenever there are people giving gifts exchanging cards, I believe that Christmas is truly in our hearts,” a very captivating lyrics of one Christmas Song. Everytime I hear this song, I can’t explain the feelings I have deep inside my heart. It seems that my heart is full of joy because the first thing that strikes my mind is that Christmas is fast approaching. Yes! It’s true Christmas!—the day when our savior Jesus Christ was born. If we are already in the “BER months” we can already feel the cold breeze of the wind coming from the Northeastern part. Hanging Amihan is one of the signs of Christmas Season. “CHRISTMAS has various meanings for everyone. For us, Christians, it is the feast that commemorates the birthday of Jesus Christ, our savior. It is a time of giving and sharing as what the previous song manifest. It is a moment for families to have time for each member. If you will ask the meaning of Christmas to a little child, he would probably say that it is a time for Santa Claus to distribute gifts. If you will ask the meaning of Christmas to teenagers, they would probably answer that it is a time for outing, hanging out with peers. If you will ask a mother the meaning of Christmas she will probably answer that it is a time to spend her family. If you will ask the meaning of Christmas to a vendor, he will probably say that it is a time for selling products for Noche Buena. See, there are different interpretations of Christmas but the bottom line is CHRISTMAS is all about LOVE---for family, for peers and for everyone.

BE FAIR!!! God has given us equal rights and equal chances. Each one of us must be treated fairly. We are very lucky because we are now enjoying the privilege of having equal rights and equal chances as others have. If we are to trace back history, our ancestors suffered from , many kinds of discrimination. We are all aware that before, males are more superior than females. Strictly speaking, males at early times have more privileges than boys. They were the only one who can attain education level where in fact that should not be the case because girls have also the right to attend to school. In political aspect, girls before are not allowed to join politics for they believe that girls are only for household chores. Nowadays, boys and girls are already being treated fairly in all aspects. Girls can now attend to college and get a course they want. In fact the number of females who are becoming professionals is gradually increasing. It only manifests that girls are not left behind when it comes to profession. They can even qualify as candidates for presidency. Actually, there were already two girls who became president of the Philippine Republic. They are former president Corazon Aquino and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and because of this, it has been proven that whatever boys can do, girls also can. “Gender Awareness” to be exact. So, we need to be fair. How nice it would be if only there is no more discrimination. This world will probably be a better place to live if everyone in here will be given “equal rights and equal chances.”