Celebrate our Locals, Celebrate Our Cultures!

 Every October, the Philippines celebrates National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Month, honoring the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous communities across the country. 

The 2025 theme, "Weaving Culture, Enriching Future: Empowering Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development," 

highlights the vital role Indigenous Peoples play in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable nation.

Indigenous cultures are deeply rooted in respect for nature, community cooperation, and ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.

Mga Bata, Protektahan

 The 2025 National Children's Month Celebration highlights the urgent need to protect children from Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM). With the theme "Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!", this year's observance calls on everyone to defend children's safety and uphold their rights, especially in the digital world.

As children become more active online, they face greater risks that threaten their well-being and dignity. This celebration reminds parents, schools, communities, and institutions that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Through awareness, education, and action, we can help create safe spaces where children are empowered, heard, and protected.

Ending OSAEC and CSAEM is a collective fight. By standing together, we protect not only children's rights, but also their future.

An Unforgettable Break

On the first couple of days of Christmas break, I only stayed at home and watched series and movies like Mischievous Kiss 2009, Lucifer, Beetlejuice, Lisa Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Nosferatu, The Good Doctor, and more. In Mischievous Kiss, I have learned from the main character not to fall for a guy who is mean to you.

In Beetlejuice, I reminded myself that if I should ever sign a contract, I should read and analyze its contents.

In these movies and series, I have learned some things that should have been engraved on my mind long ago.

And then, on December 24th, my relatives from Antipolo arrived, and we then went to beaches like Puerto, and to where our family house was and stayed there overnight.

In the morning, my cousin, brother Israel, had invited me to take the bangsa and go farther to the family house so we could swim more freely, as the waters near the family house are usually shallow and low tide .

That day, I experienced for the first time swimming and jumping in deep waters without having a vest on, along with their driver, my other cousin, sister Maya, and my cousin in law, sister Grace. It was a truly fun experience for me.

When December 26th came my relatives from Antipolo had to leave because they had other trips to go to. At the same time, my relatives and cousins ​​from Cainta came home. Me and my cousin, Kai, caught up with each other, and he also decided to show me some of the weird encounters he met on discord. I was never on discord much, but I didn't know the discord servers there were very questionable. So then we told each other some more gossips that we heard while we ate a matcha tiramisu given by my mom. The next day, we went swimming. Again. I was still tired from his last swim, and my shoulders were still aching, so I decided to just watch over them and build sand castles. On December 28th, my relatives from Cainta had to leave again, and now I await their next visit for 2027.

The Life of the 5th President of the Philippines: Elpidio Quirino

 Elpidio Quirino was the 5th president of the Philippines, serving from 1948 to 1953, and is remembered as one of the most influential leaders of the post-war era. He came from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, where he was born and raised. Born on November 16, 1890, Quirino grew up in a humble and financially struggling family. His father worked as a jail guard and sometimes tried running small businesses to support the family, while his mother stayed at home and focused on raising the children with strong values, discipline, and respect for education.

Despite not having much money, Quirino showed determination from a young age. He studied hard and eventually earned the opportunity to attend law school at the University of the Philippines, a remarkable achievement for someone from a poor background during that time. His perseverance paid off when he passed the bar exam in 1915, marking the beginning of his long journey in public service. From being a simple provincial boy, he slowly worked his way up through talent, dedication, and a genuine desire to serve the country.

Throughout his political career, Quirino held various positions, including serving as a representative, senator, and vice president. After the death of President Manuel Roxas, he stepped into the presidency during one of the most challenging periods in Philippine history—when the country was recovering from the devastation of World War II. His leadership shaped the rebuilding of the nation and helped lay the foundation for future economic progress.

Today, the house where Quirino lived with his wife in Vigan stands as a museum, welcoming both tourists and locals. This museum preserves his childhood environment, family history, and early life struggles, while also showcasing his achievements as a national leader. It serves as a reminder of how a boy from a modest home in Ilocos Sur rose to become president, proving that determination and education can open doors to great possibilities.

The "Sleepy Town" of Ilocos: San Ildefonso

 

The town of San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, is known as the home of Basi Wine, 

a traditional wine made from distilled or fermented sugarcane. This is the town’s most famous product, symbolizing not only the richness of its agriculture but also its deep Ilocano heritage. Making Basi is a tradition passed down through generations, serving as a testament to the hard work and creativity of the people of San Ildefonso.

The history of Basi is closely linked to the Basi Revolution of 1807, 

a historic uprising of the Ilocanos against the Spanish government after it banned the production and sale of basi. This event symbolizes the people’s strong desire for freedom and the right to their own products. To this day, San Ildefonso’s Basi Wine remains an important part of Ilocos culture and continues to be proudly showcased both within and beyond the region.

Aside from Basi, San Ildefonso also offers a variety of tourist attractions. One of these is Mango Haven, 

a well-loved tourist spot that gives visitors a fun experience at a local mango plantation. Here, tourists can relax, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the simple beauty of provincial life.

Another unique attraction in the town is the Airplane, 

a former personal plane of the Sultan of Brunei that was nearly scrapped. It was given to his friend, former Mayor Mark Purisima, who brought it to the Philippines, hoping it would attract visitors to the so-called “Sleepy Town.” It was originally planned to be converted into an airplane café, but the project was halted due to the prioritization of agriculture over tourism during the time of former Mayor Basi Purisima. Today, the airplane remains beside “Lolong” and continues to draw tourists who stop for photos because of its uniqueness, even inspiring memes due to its location near the highway.

The crocodile “Lolong”, also found in San Ildefonso, 

is another popular attraction brought by former Mayor Mark Purisima from the southern part of the country. It was named after the famous giant crocodile of Agusan del Sur, once hailed as the largest crocodile ever caught in the world. The San Ildefonso version of Lolong serves as a reminder of the citizens’ interest in nature and has become a favorite photo spot for visitors.

Products like Basi Wine and attractions such as Mango Haven, the Airplane, and “Lolong” showcase the hard work, creativity, and rich history of the people of San Ildefonso. In every product and view, the Ilocano spirit lives on—resilient, resourceful, and proud.

How Coding Enlightened Me (A reflection of 2nd quarter)

This quarter, I have discovered the art of basic coding through my ICT subject. At first, I thought coding was just about typing random words and symbols, but as I learned more, I realized it’s a logical language that tells computers exactly what to do. With this knowledge, I now partially understand why and how my favorite games like Genshin Impact or Roblox work. 

Even though I know those games use much more complex programming languages and systems, learning the basics helped me appreciate the effort and creativity that game developers put into making them. It also made me realize that coding is not only about games, it’s about problem-solving, patience, and critical thinking, which are skills I can use in many other subjects and real-life situations.

One of the problems that I encountered during these lessons was that the tags and codes were hard to see whenever I tried to fix them, especially when the lines became long and complicated. Sometimes, I’d spend several minutes just trying to find a single missing symbol. On top of that, my assigned computer, number 34, would suddenly turn off or restart on its own, which made me lose my progress. It was frustrating to repeat the same steps or rush to finish an activity before the computer shut down again. There were even times I couldn’t complete the activity on time because of these interruptions, which made me feel discouraged and behind my classmates.

To solve this, I decided to take the initiative and work on my unfinished activities at home. After class, I would open my notes app on my laptop and re-enter the codes that I remembered from school. 

I also started double-checking my tags carefully and saving copies of my work more often to avoid losing progress. Sometimes, I even searched for short tutorials online to better understand the errors I encountered. These small adjustments helped me not only keep up with the lessons but also understand the code more deeply because I was practicing them independently. Over time, I became more confident in handling my work and managing my time efficiently.

Moving on, I will definitely aim to finish my activities at a faster pace and with better focus so that I won’t get held back by unfinished work. I also plan to keep improving my coding skills by practicing during my free time and exploring beginner-friendly programming languages like Python or JavaScript. I want to build a strong foundation so that when we tackle more complex topics in ICT, I can follow along more easily. Most importantly, I will maintain a positive attitude whenever I face errors or technical issues, because I’ve learned that patience and perseverance are key traits of a good coder.

Teachers Aren't Simply Just Teachers

Teachers don’t simply impart knowledge. They help foster character, build confidence, and shape the future. Research shows that teachers are more than just instructors of academic content: they model social and emotional skills, and support students’ holistic development, just like what my advisor, Ma'am Remedios, does. University of the People+3Psychology Today+3Teachers of Tomorrow+3

In recognizing my teacher as a hero, I reflect on how their hard work, patience, and genuine care have guided me on a journey beyond textbooks. 

The late nights of lesson preparation, the encouragement after mistakes, and the continuous showing of belief in my potential make me appreciate them very much. Teachers today are also entrusted with nurturing students’ emotional and social well-being, which means that their role involves adapting to challenges and supporting learners more broadly. Psychology Today+1 A hero in the classroom is someone who not only teaches us what to learn, but also how to learn, when to believe in ourselves, and why our growth matters. A great example is one of my teachers in research, ma'am Regina.

I express my gratitude and respect in both words and actions. Beyond heartfelt thank-you notes or verbal appreciation during the celebration, I make an active effort to live out the values my teachers have instilled in me: showing kindness to peers, striving to learn continuously, participating actively in class, and carrying forward the lessons with integrity. When teachers see their investment pay off in a student’s growth, that too becomes a meaningful expression of respect. 

Furthermore, acknowledging that teachers themselves deserve care and support, especially when they carry emotional as well as physical burdens, reminds me that appreciating them means understanding their sacrifices, which is why I am in awe of teachers every time.