Ecce Homo

   The Pilgrim's Way    Through an early morning haze, I watched the sun rising on the horizon as the pilgrim bus traverse the long-wide expressway. The breathtaking vast green fields gave us the sign that we are now entering the central plains of Luzon.   It was a new kind of journey because it is my first time to travel in the province of Pampanga, the lantern capital of the Philippines. Not to see the gigantic Christmas lanterns, but because of the visita iglesia. Visita iglesia is a practice done by Catholics during Lenten Season. The main reason of this tradition is that Christians follows the way of Christ in the cavalry by traveling into seven different churches and by praying the stations of the cross, Christians can contemplate, experience, and feel the steps of Christ in the cavalry.     The company of pilgrim buses stopped at the first church, the parish of San Rafael in Mabalacat, Pampanga.   The church is situated along the mile...

My Name My name “Jose” is connected to the name “Joseph”, which came from Hebrew and Aramaic word meaning “Yahweh shall increase”. In the Old Testament of the Bible, there was a man named Joseph. He is one of the twelve sons of Jacob that was sold by his brothers because of jealousy. Joseph became the Vizier of Egypt and in the end, the brothers reconciled with each other and lived in Egypt for a long time. In addition, my parents chose “Jose” in honor of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. In comparison, Joseph and Jose Rizal have in common. They both have charm that made them popular. The story of Joseph is one the most remarkable scenes in the bible. Likewise, Jose Rizal became our national hero. Both men showed inner strength and intelligence that made them successful. In addition, they both traveled outside of their own country for them to build their own dreams. Joseph was sold to the Egyptians and by hardwork, he became the second most powerful man in their land, the P...

Ka Bel was a well-known labor leader and a staunch critic of Arroyo’s Administration. His imprisonment in 2006 and 2007 on disputed charges of rebellion and sedition drew international attention. As a member of 13th Congress of the Philippines with the Anakpawis or the 'Toiling Masses Partylist' and former chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), a militant and progressive labor movement. The work of Bienvenido Lumbera’s Ka Bel became an eye opener in the real scenario that is happening now in our society. The proletariat are not well treated in our society, especially by some greedy capitalist who gain much power to suffer the working-class citizens.

                         From the reportage that we have read "The House on Zapote Street by Quijano de Manila" was all about a crime of jealousy and possessiveness of the perpetrator. Our teacher in the 21st Century Literature asked us to do an activity which was to make a reportage about the most notorious crimes. Our group decided to make a reportage about the Kawit Cavite mass shooting incident. Happened on January 4, 2013 around nine in the morning in Brgy. Tabon 1 in Kawit, Cavite. Seven people, including two children and pregnant women, were killed when a man named Ronald Bae who has believed to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Our group used props like microphone and camera made from cardboard and power point presentation to present the reportage. Dominic Calavia and Marielle Griarte acted as the reporter and the news anchor and Clyde Rebinito acted ...

LIEBISLIED---The ringing of the bells can be heard throughout the cathedral; anxiety rushing its course through her veins, unspeakable joy is all she could feel. As Alysson draws near the dark oak doors and as her father holds onto her hand, her body sways as the piano plays; she couldn't help but let the salty sweet tears fall down her cheeks.             The happiness she feels beams throughout Kevin's face, looking into his green orbs reminiscing about their past. Alysson didn't think of ending here in a church yet she's grateful to have met someone like Kevin. In front of the altar she awaits, in front of the priest preceding. As he preaches the verse she reads, about love and everything in between. The droplets from her eyes refuse to stop rolling down, as Kevin announces his vows. The same words of love she received from him, at the park that saw it all. The night he knelled before her, the night he confessed his love for ...

                                                              My Collection Of Books             In our house here in Makati, we have a lot of books that I can described as our valuable assets. Ranging from novels, reference books, science books, religious books, and even music books.           Our novels are consisting of several famous authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, who made Lord of the Rings trilogy; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous book, the Sherlock Holmes; Dan Brown’s well-known books like the Angels and Demons and the da Vinci Code; and some books of several renowned a...