"IN ENGLISH PLEASE" IS OUT! "WITH CORRECT GRAMMAR" IS IN! :D

            As Cyril Connolly says, The English language is like a broad river on whose bank a few patient anglers are sitting, while, higher up, the stream is being polluted by a string of refuse-barges tipping out their muck.

            “IN THIS PAPER ARE THE CORRECTIONS I FOUND IN YOUR POSTS” it is not exactly the words my teacher in English III said; I think I had goose bumps in that very moment! I felt that I am one of those who made certain errors that are unfortunately placed on that paper. For me, it is a weird thing to correct other’s mistakes. I was not comfortable doing that and I also thought that do I have the right to correct it and do I have the knowledge for that? Maybe it is funny for others but for me it is a serious thing. I had a comment from my teacher that I had grammatical errors in one of my posts that is why I am very affected.  Besides all those feelings and thoughts, I saw the PROS in it. I was able to identify some of the errors correctly and apply the lessons I have learned. I realized that I do not have to be ashamed or get nervous because there is nothing to worry about! Sentences in my posts are not included in the paper, which made a great relief in me. As we continued checking, I realized that it is not wrong to see and correct other’s sentences. Honestly, I learned a lot from it. It made me more conscious and careful in writing not only essays but also even simple sentences. The activity opened my mind that not everyone can have correct grammar in speaking and writing. One of the best lessons I learned is I cannot hide my mistakes in grammar in making my sentences “WORDY”. No offense but that really made me laugh!

             In studying, I know English subject is different from others. And there are a lot of “EXCEMPTIONS to the RULES” (most remarkable line whenever I am in my English class) I remember back when I was in elementary, there was a lesson in grammar and I think that when I speak or write, do I have to say that it is in that tense… Now, I knew its importance. In writing, I write sentences and if my grammar is incorrect, my work will not be inspiring to others and that will result a lower grade for me (personally speaking). Also, it is like cooking, if my ingredients are not correct, my dish will not taste good. Grammar is really important. It is not only used in speaking, but also in all the fields of communication and in expressing my thoughts and emotions. Although I am a Filipina, I should learn how to CORRECTLY use English, why? Because I cannot translate the sentences in “tagalong” to English if I do not know the correct grammar that I will use in translating it. Others may misinterpret my writings or what I will say if I am not aware of it.

            I admit that I have grammatical errors especially when I am tired or I am in a rush to finish it. I think this is a good way to improve my grammar skills. In  blogging, I am able to see my errors and I become more aware of it. Before, when I write, the thing that is always in my mind is, “okay lang na may mali, isa lang naman makakabasa nun e” but now everyone can read it! And I have no control who will read, analyze and sometimes others may laugh at it. Being more aware on how I apply the lessons I learned can also help me to improve it and be better. I think I will not just listen, I should also prove that I have learned. I WILL ALWAYS bear in my mind that Filipinos are good English speakers and I should be confident enough to believe in myself that I can improve my weaknesses.

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

That quote from John Wesley inspired me a lot.

           

HARDWORK + POSITIVE OUTLOOK + GREAT FRIENDSHIP + FUN = SUCCESS!

             

            “While most are dreaming of success, winners wake-up and work hard to achieve it.”  A quote that mirrors III-LEAH, this ran to each of us as I see our FAMILY  make  our routines perfect for the cheer dance category for the field demo.  Despite of loaded school works, there is the shooting for Noli Me Tangere, the Science Congress and the Blog, I saw that each did his best to cooperate and I felt how the real CAMARADERIE was formed. Even those who will not really dance attended practice and supported us with food. They stayed in our practices. I saw how the LEAH sacrificed for our practices. The outcome of tiring nights after school hours, hungry stomachs and exhausted bodies was really worth it. We did not just practice; we had fun, glorify God and built stronger relationships with each other. As the days passed by, more exhausting nights happened. We had an experience that in our practice, it came to a point that we cannot see each other because there is no light. It is about seven in the evening if I am not mistaken. We tried our best to balance our studies and to save energy for our “after-school activity.”

            One of the factors that let us do our best for that competition is our fellow schoolmates. We was really challenged by their preparation especially the seniors and the sophomores. We saw how they are dedicated to the field demo. Oh! We only FELT! :D

            The next one is our SACRIFICES, I remember that t in our practices, one is  required to wear the proper clothes and there is a fee if one will disobey.  We also made “AMBAGAN” for our food. The meaning of FAMILY is there whenever we eat together, share our thoughts and do our routines.

            When the day that we are waiting for came, I saw the excitement and thrill as each year performs. Honestly, when the sophomores came in the center to perform, I said to myself “Eto na!” I was really excited to see them perform! I do not know why. When our turn came, I said to myself that I will just enjoy this event and make the most out of it. It happened! I felt how we enjoyed while we perform and how the audiences smiled at us. All our hardworks was paid off.  It is all worth it!

            The judges are fair. I trust them because I know that the school will not invite them if they do not have the knowledge and capacity to make fair decisions.

            I am not a player but as I saw how the TUMCSIANS played, I think there is a friendship and fairness that happened during the times that they played. I only hope that each of them had a nice game and had fun.

            After a rollercoaster week, it imparted me a great lesson that I should:

Enjoy life, feel alive. 
Face the crowd. 
Be proud. 
Perform. 
Shine your brightest! 
Love every minute of it.
Amaze them. 

-unknown
 and!  I should do everything for God’s glory. I also learned that everything that I do will be easier if I am having fun doing it.  Being optimistic that we can do it within a shot span of time is also one of the VALUES I learned. And there are no shortcuts to learn.  Actually, I only learned the true meaning of a family in a classroom during my high school days.  I really love the LEAH FAMILY! 

WE REACHED THE TOP! :D 

A STORMY DAY with a GREAT DAY waiting ahead! :)

DISCRIMINATION is the word that whenever I hear it, the natives are the first who comes in my mind. I remember my teacher when I was in elementary told us a story about a “Negrito” that story really marked in my memory. It made me think that all natives are discriminated. But as I attend my classes back then, I learned that not only the natives, but also those who have their identity crisis, overweight and many others, stated in the articles I read from different websites and newspapers.

             Honestly, I THINK I have encountered being discriminated by others, I am not that sure, because I am fat when I was a child. I always at the end of the line, sometimes second to the last, whenever the flag ceremony was held because of my height.  I also have skin asthma that would not let me play outdoors for a long time or even touch things that are used in our “lutu-lutuan” like the leaves, flowers, candy wrappers, and others. There are times that I cannot go to my friend’s house, sometimes I will just play with my older cousins whose house is near from ours.

            DEALING WITH IT is not as easy as tearing a paper. There are times that I got jealous with my playmates because I cannot go out with them in the field to play. And I felt so different back then whenever I see my fingers having severe wounds due to my skin asthma. They even called me “MATURED” because my playmates that time was my cousins who were really older than me. The first thing I did as far as I remember, I started to accept the fact that I have skin asthma and I am fat. The second is, I made a move to solve it. for my skin asthma, I took care of myself, together with my parents who were concerned a lot for me. And my cousin helped me to lose weight when I was in grade 5. I am so thankful to my “kuya Andrei and kuya Alek” because the really motivated me to have a NEW CHEN. 

            This one of a kind feeling move my life POSITIVELY, instead of being down because I am limited to do such things, I strengthened my personality and challenge me a lot to prove what CHELSI can do and I think it became a  foundation  to the REAL ME and to what I am today. I know it is not discrimination. Why? As I see my parents, it is a part on how they will protect me from those who can harm me. They wanted the best for me and they know how to handle my situation. 

            I am so thankful to God that He does not let me feel that I am different today. My skin asthma is not that visible. He healed me. He used people to take care of me and to inspire me to be a stronger person. Now, I may say that no matter how hard the situation is, there is still a blue sky waiting for me together with the rainbow that will inspire me. 

From Great Dreams and Fantasies into Real Scenes

At the time of President Fidel V. Ramos, my parents, Noel and Jeck, together with my elder sister Angelica, rushed to the Makati Medical Center on May 22, 1995. A baby girl named Chelsi Ann V. Cruz was born and that is me! I was given a nickname “Chen-Chen” by my parents. My beloved grandmother who I usually called “Inang” often called me “tsen-tsen.” How I wish I could still be with her.

            I was raise in a family who has a simple life yet I still feel like a princess. I never felt that we are encountering difficulties when I was a kid. At an early age of six, I knew God already. I can say that I have a great relationship with Him. My childhood was not that extravagant yet memorable! When I was eight, I learned how to prove myself to my parents. Why? Because I became a Nestle Scholar and that was the first time ever in my life that I experienced to be recognized in front of a lot of people. The day I got hospitalized when I was in my sixth grade of studying due to my asthma attack made me realize that when difficulties happen, the real soldiers are my family, friends and our great leader, our Heavenly Father, they made me feel that in our own castle, they will not let anyone or anything harm their princess. A bittersweet moment happened in my fourteenth birthday celebration, I was happy that my relatives came to our house to celebrate with us. After that, my grandmother was rushed to the hospital. If I am not mistaken, it is about 11:30 in the evening, when I knew that she died. Our castle was about to fall but we know that the King will not let my father feel alone. He let us realize that in times of great trouble, we will still be one. God gave strength to our family to handle the situation. A great flash of lightning awakened me two years ago. The storm that terrified us let us work to our castle. The day when the chariot of the king was stranded, he was forced to look after it. My father left us with his promise that he will be right back. As the hours pass by, my sister and I, together with my cousins, Andrei and Alekhine, played Uno cards while making fun of each other. I remember when Kuya Alek said that “hintayin natin pumasok yung tubig sa bahay bago tayo magakyat ng gamit” , it really made us laugh. Suddenly, the flood enters our house! We panicked a lot to save our appliances and also ourselves from the snake that we saw! That made a great traumatic experience to me. The night passed yet my father is not around. Our phones had no charge and the only thing that we can do is to pray. The next morning is a great day! The king was able to go back! It made our castle be enlightened again in the midst of disaster. We had a united team that made our general cleaning to our house easy and fun. From that day on, our castle is always ready for a plague.  Prayer is our number one armor and also, we do not forget that each of us should be responsible and independent enough to be prepared all the time. Now I may say that we have moved on and our castle is reigning within our hearts.

this is my eldest sister, Angelica :)

the picture above is my father, noel :D

A happy and strong harmony inside our home was the product of the wars that our castle overcame.  Now I am fifteen, I learned how to deal with different people, make friends and be independent. From a princess way back ten tears ago, now a queen in my own life trying to build and rule my castle.