“From Good to Great: CNU tells Herstory,” – this conceptualized Cebu Normal University’s 109th year of entity during the Centennial Celebration.

CNU was supposed to celebrate its centennial year in 2002, but it was only last year that the National Historical Commission confirmed its establishment in 1902. “It’s not a crime to celebrate the centennial year at CNU’s 109th year,” says SUC president, Dr. Marcelo Lopez in one of his press conferences. (The Freeman, June 11, 2011)

On June 13, 2011, a Thanksgiving Mass was offered at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral which was participated by officials, faculty members and students. The mass was followed by the Centennial Parade wherein different floats depicted the story of CNU since the American time. Among the departments were the College of Nursing (CN), the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the College of Teacher’s Education (CTE) and the Integrated Laboratory School (ILS).

Upon arrival at the University, the ribbon-cutting formally started the event. The Centennial Marker and the University Logo were unveiled. Local government officials – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Congressman Eduardo Gullas and Councilor Margarita Osmena were the primary sponsors along with Negros State University President Dr. Henry Sojor, Mr. Shigemi Watanabe, and Mr. Akira Oka and other notable persons.

The Philippine National Police Regional Office VII conducted the Tri-flag ceremony which illustrated CNU’s history from its founding to its current legacy. It was accompanied with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner (Mr. Zenith Rivera), the Kimigayo (Ms. Thelma Watanabe) and the Lupang Hinirang (CNU Chorale, Children’s choir and the Penpro Regional Office VII Brass Band). Afterwhich, they revealed the Centennial Fountain – a symbol of wealth and prosperity. To conclude the morning, Rev. Msgr. Roberto Alesna inaugurated the MacClintock Hall; the Centennial Fountain; the EMMA (Eva Macapagal Medical Arts) Center; the Tandang Sora Hall; President’s Office; Customer Care Center; University Health Service; Centennial Stage; Biology, Chemistry and Physics Laboratory; University Terraces and the World War II Memorial.

June 15, 2011, the premier of the video, “CNU Tells the World Herstory,” became the main event. A number of students stopped by and saw how CNU reveals its story to everyone. The much awaited Centennial countdown and fireworks display was held on the very same day.

The Grand Alumni Homecoming took place on June 18, 2011. CAT cadets and cadettes as well as the Boy

scouts were assigned within the school’s vicinity to assist the guests. A Thanksgiving Mass was held at the Samuel

MacClintock Hall followed by the coronation of the Alumni Centennial Queen, Ms. Rosie Flor Fabio. The Grand Alumni Centennial Ball concluded the night.

After our carefree and innocent years in our elementary, we take a step forward, entering a whole new world called “High School”. For some people, high school is just 4 years of academic and adolescent comfusion. It is the time wherein we decide on what we will become in the years to come. But behind those scary views, is an enjoyable ride towards our future. High school life is not as scary as what other people say. The burden becomes lighter because we encounter people our age who are just as willing as we are to take risks and enjoy the journey together. Observing the people we run into inside the school is initially part of our daily lives. Here are some of the people we know who eventually became a part of our lives and how we look at them as schoolmates. These students are academic achievers who try their best to stay on top. They become our heroes every morning.

• Mary Mae Denila • Chelsey Gaile Lapingcao • Kaye Alyssa Enriquez • Elisha Marie Bana-ay • Shaira Grace Sestoso • Lourdes Mae Maglinte • Christa Lou Derasin • Chin Iris Lapingcao • Reina Mae Felicia Caturza, and • Ivy Marie Hernani

These people have overflowing athletic abilities, enough for their names to be heard all around especially during the school intramurals. • Joana Lourdes Hortezano • Samantha Rae Genelsa • John Stephen Jimenea • Josh Tristan Canada • Joshua Emmanual Bandala • Theo Sebastien Manlawe • Kimberly Mae Sanchez • Leo Nhel Abao • Dayl Fernandez • Mylene Lariosa and • Rey Francis Leyson

These students make our mood go from good to great. They’re willing to do anyhting just to make us laugh with their unusual antics.

• Lyle Angelo Opolentisima • Carl John Betaizar • Jafet Kintanar • Daniel Suarez • Nikko Canete • Paulo Matthew Bacolod • Ritter John Ursal • Carmella Cabansag, and • Alfred Macalam

These people makes our eyes sparkle and get our knees weak. They have the looks, charisma and appeal that makes our heart skip its beat.

• Tristan Seth Fernandez • Noreen Marie Son • Mischelle Divinagracia • Hyacinth Blaise Tan • Kyle Montalbo • Edbert Joshua Bitoon • Saskia Lasa • Jasmin Fernandez and • Rianne Faye Cezar

They are the people who enthusiastically raise their hands here and there to participate. They have the most chips collected after every class.

• Ma. Carmelle Catamura, Vince Edward Pintac, Mary Antone Delos Santos

• Maria Naina Gillamac, Julia Lourdette Arias • Carolline Jenet Faye Arepal • Maria Raisa Gillamac and Claire Margarette

Miranda These are the people who gather in one part of the room and talk about Naruto, Bleach, One Peice or Shonen Anime (as what they call it) as a whole.

• Christabel Kim Lanit, Dyanne Joy Berou, Janzyl Mae Go, Christine Luz Landiza,

• Christyl Abellaneda, Athena Dominique Bandala, Jarrah Cinth Alvarez,

• Jessamyl Althea Allocod and Keshia Marice Gandionco

These are the students who are known to be good in particular fields. They excell in things like leadership, scouting, modelling and other fields that they are into.

• Trisha Leigh Ybanez, Jen Florriel Babor, • Arthur Yap, Doms Jeoriz Khe, • Earl Patrick Dosdos and Ilene Astrid de

Vera These people go listening and dancing to music whose lyrics we don’t understand. We often hear them say the names Jae Joong or Onew and boybands like Shinee and TVXQ!

• Rikka Wagas, Kate Guillena, • Irene Kaye Acero, Roxanne Kathlyn Alivio,

Claire Therese Obtina

These people are heard to be good in almost everything they do. Wether it’s singing, dancing, acting and all those other “-ings” , their performances are always exceptional.

• Jonnah Mari Antoine Ungab, • Pearl Marie Caneda, Maria Clavel Asas, • Mary Claire Sab, Mae Celine Sagario, • Karla Mae Ann Diaz and Chloe Aguila

These students are the ones patient enough to read a book from cover to cover. We always see them bringing books and reading them in every free time they have.

• Alexis Emily Keh Leung, Rizallier Amollo Jr., • Linette Dannah Cartagena, Dennise Vivares, • Pearl Angela Belarmino, Maria Nathalia Ang, • Charina Hurtado and Monica Gloria

Manluluyo These students have bursting colors inside them (artistically or musically). They are our heroes in group activities especially in Music and Arts and their skills and talents are sought after whenever competitions come.

• Bianca Ysabelle Saldana, Pearl Angela Belarmino, Nikko Canete, Christoffer Lanz Berondo

• Jarrah Cinth Alvarez, Mary Kaye Quibilan, Angel Rose Trocio, Daebriel Natalie Bacus and Charlaine Louie Berondo.

Being in High School is such an extraordinary experience, thanks to these kind of people. We should treasure the people around us that has been part of our life because no matter how contrasting our personalities are, OUR DIFFERENCES MAKES US ONE.

The horns of a bull scare off its predators. It divulges vehemence, power, and dominance.

It avers undaunted superiority. This concurs the notion that anyone can be bullied or be the bully. A bull

itself can be a prey – it also has qualms. Yes, it is fierce, but it also has fears. With such facets, we can

profess that each one of us can be in such horrible situations.

The victims of bullying can come to the extent of insecurity and self-hatred that they believe them-

selves to be failures. In more drastic situations, victims are triggered to be compelled beyond their capa-

city to cope, disabling them to escape. Sadly, this could lead to “bullycide”- bullying that ends in suicide.

They would see such as the easiest option to ease the struggle by ending it all in the form of removing their

existence. But not all victims are driven this way. Some victims of bullying tend to wear the mask of those

they themselves hate and detest. Pushed out by fear, they change themselves from being the underdog to

becoming the superior and assertive. The one hunted can be the one hunting. The prey can become the

predator. The victim can have the face of a bully.

Let us be open-minded and state the obvious. Bullying is most commonly experienced in schools,

and we can’t deny the fact that this kind of abuse is undeniably present in our own school. I doubt this

piece of writing will catch the attention of those of you who don't care. So let me address it to you – those

who are reading this. You may either be a concerned student who witnessed such dreadful situation or

someone who had been on hand and seen this as a common thing. Yet, from what I’m expecting, you

could either be the one bullied or the one who bullies.

I hope the following story will serve as an eye-opener to those who don't care and an enlightenment to

those who do.

“Note: Any character(s) in the story is(are) fictional. This is based on a real life incident.”

Every day is like a courtroom for Shay. She heeds it as a secluded four-cornered room like a prison, filled with

judgmental eyes. Her everyday struggle is facing reality that life for her is unlike any other- unfair, painful,

cursed. People used to see her alone sitting on the edge of the school’s waiting bench. She is alluring with

short black hair. About her personality, her name says it all. She always standout in a

crowd, not because of her pretty face, but because of her stature, very short stature.

Once she walks along the corridor, people would start looking at her. She would see

herself as a walking toy doll bushwhacked by glaring stares. She hates herself. She

detests it, not because she’s different, but because no one is there to help her stand

every time she falls. Worse than this, she herself can’t, except for one person, her

mother. Every school day for her is a nightmare and her mother’s arm is the only

place she can find comfort. The first instance that she was bullied was on the

second week of First year high school. A male classmate named Dan taunted her

through calling her names. When she entered the class, Dan shouted, “Naa na si

Gloria!” Majority of the class laughed and continuously taunted her. At first, she

just saw it as a friendly way of getting close to her. After all, friendly teasing is a

common way to build bonds. But as the days past, she realized it was different.

She was excluded from class plans as if she was an alien who didn't belong to the

world she was in. She always felt alone although she belonged in a circle of friends

who were as well bullied because there is an evident division of class status where

the popular ones are in authority and the others are degraded to lowly laughing-

stocks. She was also insulted through cyber assaults. She’d hear her classmates

most commonly the popular ones intentionally letting her hear that they were

talking bad about her. All eyes were on her from the moment she entered hell till

the time she was out from their sight. From then on, she began to break down.

She couldn't take it anymore. Yes, she wasn’t battered physically, but her huma-

nity was. Facing all those verbal and psychological bullying, she believed that she

was an incapable, undesired and disgusting individual. From this kind of expe-

rience, her life changed. She lost her self-trust and self-worth. She wanted to be

isolated all the time. It was already hard for her to make bonds and talk to people.

She began to make excuses like stomach ache so she could pass a day without get-

ting hurt. Just that kind of maltreatment caused her to throw life’s greatest

treasures-the time to learn, the freedom to be happy, and the chance to live. Her

mother, who was her only support, felt as much pain as she did. She could no

longer stand the damage it caused her daughter. She can no longer harbor tole-

rating the wrongdoings of those defiant teenagers. And so, she decided to open a

new beginning for her daughter. Shay transferred schools but that didn't make it

easier. She was slowly coping up; trying her best to continue life but the past will

always be a painful, unbearable scar-a scar that she could never erase.

Adios, Ciao, Paalam, Sayonara, Goodbye. It doesn’t matter what language we use, since the meaning is just the same. My classmates and friends for 4 years now, I’m sure we all remember that day we first met as clearly as if it happened yesterday. Nobody knows when

we’ll all be together again after we all go on to College, and memories are the only things that will keep us occupied when we move on with our lives.

I.

We chose our seats that very first day of High School by picking out elements from

a box before we were allowed to step inside, and I still remember mine as Argon. We started

out as 56 students in one class, and friendships were established, bonds made, and impressions

given out. We weren’t the best class when it came to competitions, but we helped and supported each other throughout the entire year. Yes, we might not have won awards, but the

process by which we prepped ourselves up for the competition was enough to make us a

tightly-knit batch. Our teachers told us we still retained the minds of Elementary pupils, and it

wasn’t a lie. We used to play after class – our favorite spot being the space in front of the Admin building, or anywhere that was spacious, really, – and spend time together. After Dayl broke his arm, we got banned from that place and told not to play McDo2 again, so we

transferred and began playing Jollibee2 – a game very similar to McDo2 except for its name. We also had a hard time taming our boys - who tended to disappear during the times we met

in school on Fridays to finish a few props or to rehearse for role plays - to internet cafes

like Jemadee, Dopster, NetXpress and WebEmpire. By mid-September, our batch’s first major group, CRX, was formed. It was a sad moment when we had to say an early goodbye to

Thomas, Kyle, Kyrel, Karyll, Karl, Pinky and Charisse, but we had to go on and smile amidst

everything.

II.

Change slowly descended upon us when we reached our 2nd year. We became more

responsible and keener to win. Our most memorable victory was during the Cheerdance

Competition. We gave it our all, and we succeeded. Nothing was sweeter than that moment of

triumph and nothing more comfortingly hilarious than the scene of students wrapped around

long pieces of garter with yellow hair bouncing up and down as the results were announced.

During those days, we made close friends out of the Freshies and became known as SoFresh.

I still shake my head in half-amazement and half-amusement at our ability to make connections

with the other year levels. AND, we accidentally named our batch out of a word that has no

apparent meaning… at all. This was how The Bringgy’s came to be. That year was full of trials, romance and growth of factions in our class. It was in that year, in the early days of

the month of September, that Gangxiiee, the second major group of our batch, came into

existence. At present, we have CLARP; Baleleng; and ‘League of Doom’ to add to the list. That year, Naomi and Charisse left us to migrate, not even finishing the school year.

III.

Being in Third year was just awesome. I can’t find the exact words to say just how much change we underwent through the expanse of the whole 10 months we were under Maam

Cabrestante. The change was apparent and could be felt from the entire four corners of the

room. Gone was the Lynnard who poured Domex on Margarette’s seat back in first year; the type of boys who snuck off to Jemandee or Dopster for quick games during lunch in

second year; and the noisy type of girls who talked to each other like they were kilometers

apart. Instead, the Boy Scouts made their appearance, and the girls started to behave like the

teenage ladies they really are… most of the time. We might have changed for the better, but

our childhood spirit still lived in our hearts. There was never a dull moment when we chose to

gather ourselves for practices and whatnot. Though it had been a year or so after we

started hanging out at McDonalds Jones, the slide was still not left unoccupied every time we

ate out on Fridays. For the second time around, we tasted the sweetness of victory during

the Cheerdance Competition and we strived to win other events. I admit we were scared of

being under Maam Cabrestante the summer before that year, but it didn’t take long before she grew on us, and we started loving her to bits just like our past Advisers. Prom was the

best part of the year. Preparing for it was tiring but fun, and the suspense as we counted

the remaining days was slowly building until the 9th of February finally came around. Though it

felt short, JS Prom was a night to remember, and one that will probably drive us to tears as

we reminisce on all the fun things we did. This was the most glorious year for us Blue

Knights.

IV.

We’re at the end of our High School journey, but I know we’ll always keep the feel of being in this yellow uniform fresh in our hearts. On the day we walk out of the school

gates, Diplomas in hand, memories stashed safely in our minds and hearts, wherever we may go

on next, 56 will always be 56; Bringgy’s will always be Bringgy’s; Blue Knights will forever be Blue Knights; and moments spent with each other will follow us forever.

High School is a jungle of social classes, strict teachers, teenage romance and mainstream

misguided pranks on poor, unsuspecting nerds. In Cebu Normal University – Integrated Laboratory

School, it’s a whole lot more than the ordinary high school crowds. Being the cream of the crop, the cherry on the ice cream, the best among the rest, these students create a tight bond within themselves,

moulding a whole new meaning for “high school”. But this isn’t just about the ILS, it’s about the whole student body in the Philippines.

For the Seniors, graduation is the day wherein everything wrong about High School ends and a whole new world awaits. Tears are shed, memories are looked back-on, and the shared intimacy between two or more people called hugs, are given out. Right now, the Seniors of Batch 2011-2012 are preparing for college, taking Entrance Exams and generally just being pumped with a mixture of excitement and sadness about the beginning of a new stage in their lives.

But what about those who will be affected by K-12? Are they looking forward to two more years of High School?

For the socially “oppressed”, school-hating people, this sort of news means a crucial change in their view of education. It makes them dislike the whole idea of school even more. On the other hand, an additional two years of education will turn out to be a relief to those who love High School. They would see it as a preparatory stage for the course they will take in College and an excuse to spend more time with their cliques; their second families; and their distinguished romances.

The reactions are split, but the decision is one. K-12 will be implemented by the incoming Academic Year, and the affected students are those who are part of the Batch 2012 Grade Six classes.

Our country is trying to keep up with the Educational System of 99% of the countries in the world, where 12 years of education is mandatory before one can go on to University. This will greatly

help OFWs and professionals seeking jobs abroad to be automatically recognized as “competent”. Also, a person who has graduated High School will be able to acquire jobs which will help them in terms of financial support. If the Philippine government has views similar to my own, then perhaps, the future of

the incoming Grade 11 pupils won’t be so hard. Summer jobs will be readily available to them upon

their graduation, and they will not be put into the hassle of looking for a part-time job that doesn’t require the age of 18 because their educational attainment and skills alone will be good enough to compensate for their age. However, business firms do not hire fresh High School graduates, so they will be forced to settle for the low-paying institutions.

Isagani Cruz summarized the Pros and Cons of K-12 basic education last October 14, 2010, when the news about this first came to light. Take note of some of the facts stated below and see where Mr. Cruz has highlighted practicality in more than one statement.

The PROS (which is basically the side of the government, well-heeled and articulate leaders from the academe, the business community and the media):

1. “Enhancing the quality of basic education in the Philippines is urgent and critical.”

2. “The poor quality of basic education is reflected in the low achievement scores of Filipino

students. One reason is that students do not get adequate instructional time or time on task.”

3. International test results consistently show Filipino students lagging way behind practically everybody else in the world. In the 2008 mathematics exam, for example, we came in dead last.

4. “The congested curriculum partly explains the present state of education.” Twelve years of content are crammed into ten years.

5. “This quality of education is reflected in the inadequate preparation of high school graduates

for the world of work or entrepreneurship or higher education.” If ten years were adequate, how come employers do not hire fresh high school graduates? How come most high school graduates flunk the UPCAT?

The CONS (which are basically the madlang people whose pocketbooks would be adversely impacted by the proposed additional 2 years of basic education):

1. Parents have to shell out more money (for transportation and food) for the education of their children.

2. The government does not have the money to pay for two more years of free education, since it

does not even have the money to fully support today’s ten years. DepEd must first solve the lack of classrooms, furniture and equipment, qualified teachers, and error-free textbooks.

3. We can do in ten years what everyone else in the world takes 12 years to do. Why do we have to follow what the rest of the world is doing? We are better than all of them. Filipinos right now are accepted in prestigious graduate schools in the world, even with only ten years of basic education.

4. As far as the curriculum is concerned, DepEd should fix the current subjects instead of adding new ones. The problem is the content, not the length, of basic education. As an editorial put it, we need to have better education, not more education.

5. A high school diploma will not get anybody anywhere, because business firms will not hire fresh high school graduates.

The state of our country and our youth are not stable enough to support the K-12 Basic Education system, and yet last February 16, 2012, the Department of Education has announced that they will push through with the program this June.

Will it bring success and economic stability to our country, or will it drag us deeper into poverty?

Natatandaan ko noong ako’y musmos pa lamang, naitanong ko sa aking ina;

“Ma, sino ba itong lalaki sa posporong ipinabili ninyo?” “Ah, iyan? Si Jose Rizal yan”,sagot ng aking butihing

ina. “Sino ba si Rizal?”,tanong ko sa aking sarili. Siguro siya ang may-ari ng pabrikang gumagawa ng posporo. O,

siya ba’y pinugutan ng ulo at inilagay sa piso? Iyan ang mga tanong na naghari sa isipan ng isang batang paslit na

tulad ko sa mga panahong iyon. Ngunit ngayon, maipagmamalaki kong sasabihin na hindi na ako ang walang

kamuwang-muwang na batang iyon. Kagaya ng nakararami, nakilala ko siya sa paaralan. Siya ang ating

pambansang bayani- iyan lamang ang pagkakaalam ko noong una, at siguro kahit ngayon, marami sa atin ang ito

lamang ang alam ukol sa kanya. Wala na nga sigurong Pilipino ang hindi nakakakilala sa pangalan ng ating

pambansang bayani. Parang kabote na nagsulputan ang mga lugar na ipinangalan sa kanya. Mayroong Rizal College,

Rizal Park, Rizal Street, Rizal Avenue- marami pang iba. Ultimo nga lugar na inihian ni Rizal nais gawan ng rebulto.

Hay naku, Rizal nga naman! Masasabing ang kanyang kasaysayan ay isang bukas na aklat sa lahat. Pilipino man o

banyaga, ang mga obra niya at mga katagang ibinigkas ay nakalarawan na sa ating mga isipan. Ngunit gaano man

katanyag at kakilala, may mga bagay pa rin tungkol sa kanya na lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan. Ito ay ang mga

bagay na mas nagbibigay ng kulay sa pagkatao ng isang “Jose Rizal.”

• Natuto siyang bumasa at sumulat sa gulang na dalawa; at lumaking marunong bumigkas ng dalawampu’t dalawang wika- Tagalog, Ingles, Kastila, Latino, Arabo, Aleman, Pranses, Katalan, Tsino, Griyego, Hebreo, Italiyano, Hapon, Malay, Portuges, Ruso, Sanskrit, at iba pang mga katutubong wika.

• Isa ring dakilang mangigibig si Jose. Maraming kababaihan ng iba’t ibang nasyonalidad ang nagpatibok ng kanyang puso. Nabibilang ditto sina Gertrude Beckett, Nelly Bousted, Usui Seiko, Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Rivera, Leonor Valenzuela, Consuelo Ortiga, Suzanne Jacoby, at Josephine Bracken.

• Ginamitan ni Rizal ng “invisible ink” ang mga sulat na ipinapadala niya sa kanyang sinisinta.

Ito ay upang manatiling lihim ang anumang namamagitan sa kanila. Mababasa lamang ang mga nasabing sulat kung itatapat sa nakasinding kandila o lampara. • Isa sa kanyang mga naging kasintahan, si Leonor Rivera, ay kanyang pinsan. Siya rin ang inspirasyon ni Rizal sa pagbuo ng tauhang si Maria Clara sa akdang “Noli Me Tangere”. • Nang si Josephine Bracken ay nasa ika-walong buwan ng pagbubuntis, minsan na isipan siyang gulatin ni Rizal bilang isang biro. Naging dahilan ito ng matinding pagkabigla na humantong sa di inaasahang panganganak niya. Namatay ang sanggol na pinangalanang “Francisco” ni Rizal. Si Rizal na rin mismo ang naglibing sa kanyang munting anghel.

Ito ang mga bagay na bumubuo sa listahan ng mga hinahangaan ko kay Dr. Jose Rizal. Ang mga ito ang

nagpapatunay na wala siyang pinagkaiba sa karaniwang tao. Siya rin ay may kahinaan, may karupukan- tulad natin.

Anuman ang kanyang pinagdaanan sa buhay, pinatunayan ni Rizal na siya ay totoong tao, sa tunay na kahulugan

nito.

Kaninang umaga habanga ko’y naghahanap ng mga baryang ipambabayad sa dyip, napatitig ako sa pisong

nasa aking kamay. Naalala ko si ina. Ngayon, hindi ko na kailangan pang magtanong tungkol kay Jose Rizal. Kilala

ko na siya- tao lamang din; umiibig, nasasaktan, nagkakamali; ngunit isang dakilang bayaning maituturing.

Ang mga una kong natutunang salita noong ako’y musmos pa lamang ay “mama” at “papa”.

Silang dalawa ang aking mga gabay mula nang aking matutunan ang mga salitang iyon. Nang ako ay

unang tumuklas ng kaalaman sa labas ng aming tahanan, mga guro ang mga naging gabay ko sa

paaralan. Sila ang humasa ng aking kaisipan. Sila ang nagbibigay ng kasagutan sa aking mga

katanungan. Ang mga gurong ito ay may malaking impluwensiya sa paghubog ng aking katauhan. Isa

sa mga gurong ito ay si Gng. Eliza Cabrestante.

Hindi katulad sa pamagat ng isang teleserye, hindi ko siya hinanap. Ibinigay siya ng

pagkakataon. Siya ang itinalagang guro namin sa Filipino. Noong una, may pangamba akong

nadarama. Mukha siyang mahigpit. Sabi ko sa aking sarili, mag-iingat ako sa aking mga kilos. Ayaw

kong mapagalitan. Ayaw kong mapahiya sa kanya. Ngunit, nangyari pa rin ang aking kinatatakutan.

Bagama’t kaming lahat sa klase ang nakatanggap ng kanyang pagdidisiplina, ako pa rin ay nangamba.

Di naman nagtagal, nawala na ang kabang namayani sa akin. Aking napagtanto na hindi bago sa akin

ang ganito. Ang aking ina at ama ay tulad rin niya. Itinutuwid nila ang aking pagkakamali sa paraang

akala ko ay paghihigpit, ngunit iyon pala ay isang pagmamalasakit.

Ang guro naming ito ay tunay na kahanga- hanga. Nakita ko sa kanya ang isang magulang na

walang hinangad kundi ang kabutihan ng kanyang anak. Tunay nga talaga na sa kabila ng mahigpit na

pamamaraan, masasalamin naman ang mabuting kalooban.

What has 30 teams, has been up and running for more than 65 years and is one of the most popular sports associations in the whole world?

Most of us don’t know that history of the NBA but let me shed some light on the subject. The National Basketball Association was founded in New York City in the year 1946. It was then called the Basketball Association of America (BAA) but in 1949 it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to come to what it is now. The “League” started out with a total of 17 Franchises which, until now, are still part of the NBA.

Over the course of 65 years, the NBA has graced us with such significant and unforgettable “Superstars”. Before our time, there was the “Tower” Bill Russell, “Mr. Clutch” Jerry West and, of course, the Great Wilt Chamberlain. Then came Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Dominique “the HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM” Wilkins and many more came into the spotlight. They were followed by the most associated persona when it comes to Basketball and the NBA – Michael Jordan. After him, stars like Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant and, not to mention, LeBron James rose to fame.

The exhilarating ‘10-‘11 Season headlined by the Finals battle between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks became the subject of talk in classrooms while it was being played, wherein the “Mavs” came out the victor.

This being said, people can’t wait for the 2011-2012 Season which starts on the 15th of November 2011.

Azkal is a modernized Filipino word which is the short form for "asong kalye" that means a street dog in English. Azkal is also the name of our National Football Team, the name fits our style of play really well. As Azkals their bite is worse than their bark (just ask anyone who’s been bitten by a stray dog), they won against Sri Lanka in the 1st Round of the FIFA 2014 Qualifiers but unfortunately lost to Kuwait in the 2nd Round.

The team is composed of both Pure-Blooded Filipinos and Mixed-Race Filipinos. It’s safe to say that the Mix-Raced Filipinos have been the highlight of the teams, the likes of Phil and James Younghusband (Filipino-English), Neil Etheridge (who is also of Filipino-English blood), Ángel Guirado(Spanish-Filipino) and many more.

Despite the Azkals loss against Kuwait and their failure to qualify as one of the teams for the 2014 FIFA World Cup they still have a lot more goals to score, a lot more teams to beat and a whole lot more of training sessions to do to become the dream team we hope to create.

Team Captain Alexander Borromeo is currently setting up a stronger team to better the Azkals’ line-up. Let’s hope that the “new editions” may have a great impact to the Azkals’ style of play, and perhaps contribute to the Azkals’ future wins.

It’s still a long way to go, but it seems the Azkals are heading down the right track towards a better Philippine Team; well we’ll just have to wait and see.

p